Vaccines, the process for preparing the same and the applications thereof

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a process for preparing vaccines, which consists in bringing into contact a toxic product with glutaraldehyde at a concentration and for a duration just sufficient to detoxify or inactivate said toxic product, and in stopping the glutaraldehyde-antigen reaction as soon as said inactivation stage is reached by physical and/or chemical means. The thus obtained inactivate product remaining antigenic and retaining its immunizing power, is usable as a vaccine for the preventive treatment of human and animals against infections caused for example by microbial or venomous toxins.

The present invention, which is the outcome of labours carried out at the Pasteur Institute, relates to the field of immunization. More particularly, this invention relates notably to new vaccines, the process for preparing the same and the applications thereof in the prevention of diseases, as well as the hyperimmune sera prepared by the use of said new vaccines.

It is known that formaldehyde is the agent most frequently used for converting a toxin into an anatoxin. Said compound is used in the form of formol, i.e. an aqueous solution of formaldehyde. The known process, consists in incubating the toxin in the presence of formol at temperatures of 35°-40°C for a period of 2 to 6 weeks. The toxin is thus inactivated, so making it possible to manufacture the corresponding vaccines.

This known process cannot be used to prepare vaccines from all the known toxins. For example, it is not suited to prepare vaccines from snake venom.

The inactivation period using formol is long.

It is also desirable to discover a process for preparing efficacious vaccines more rapidly.

The micro-organisms used as antigens for preparing vaccines are generally inactivated by heat, formalin, phenol or a combination of said means. Said known processes sometimes denature the protective antigens. In certain cases, therefore, this results in a loss of the specificity in the immunological response of the vaccinated subject.

Formol (polio), β-propiolactone (polio), UV radiation (herpes), or the combined action of chemical and physical agents, are generally used to inactivate viruses. The polio virus, for example, is inactivated with formol and then is treated with β-propiolactone.

These processes for inactivating antigens in view of the preparation of vaccines gave good results for certain viruses, such as those of poliomyelitis and rabies, but cannot be generalized to all the viruses which are agents of infectious diseases of man and animals; for example, the vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease, hitherto prepared, only confer immunity for a fairly short period of time, and yearly vaccinations are therefore necessary. Finally, it has never been possible to prepare a well-tolerated vaccine efficacious against the toxins of poisonous snakes. At present, the sole treatment for poisonous snake bites is serotherapy.

It is frequently still necessary to introduce various adjuvants into the vaccine composition, for instance, inorganic compounds, such as aluminum hydroxide or calcium phosphate.

The object of the present invention is a general means for preparing vaccines, the vaccines obtained and the application thereof in preventive treatments of men and animals.

Another object of this invention is a process, which allows the preparation of vaccines in a very short time, for example in the range of from one minute to a few hours, in the case of micro-organisms and their toxins.

Still another object of this invention is a process for preparing vaccines enabling the anatoxin to be obtained with a greater efficiency or yield than known processes.

A further object of this invention is a process for preparing new vaccines, particularly vaccines efficacious against the micro-organisms responsible for catching diseases, microbial toxins and those of poisonous snakes.

A still further object of this invention is a process enabling viral vaccines to be obtained, certain of which are new, and in a period of a few days.

Yet another object of this invention is a process for producing vaccines in the presence, or the absence, of the conventional adjuvants, such as aluminum hydroxide or phosphate or calcium phosphate.

Another object of this invention in the provision of hyperimmune sera prepared by using the new vaccines, the sera being administered to men and animals in preventive or curative treatments.

In its most general form, the invention includes a process for preparing various vaccines, which consists in contacting the toxic product with glutaraldehyde at a concentration and for a length of time just sufficient to detoxify or inactivate the said toxic product, and in stopping the reaction, as soon as the detoxification or inactivation stage is reached, by physical and/or chemical means, the inactivated product obtained being usable as a vaccine while remaining antigenic and retaining its immunizing properties.

It is generally known that aldehydes have a detoxifying activity, and the use of glutaraldehyde as a disinfectant has already been proposed. But, in the field of immunization, it is not enough to obtain a detoxified product in order that it is actually usable as a vaccine. It is necessary to elaborate conditions for the industrial manufacture of the vaccine providing all the guarantees of efficacy, reproducibility, innocuity and stability.

According to this invention, the treatment with glutaraldehyde is effected under controlled conditions and, according to a fundamental characteristic of the process, the reaction is stopped so as to remove the toxicity of the initial product, without its being denatured, that is to say, it retains its antigenic character.

To control the treatment, preliminary trials are effected with the toxic product in question. One skilled in the art possesses objective means of determining in a given system to the glutaraldehyde concentration and duration of treatment, efficacious to detoxify the product. For example, if toxins are treated, it is necessary not only to follow detoxification in the animal, but also to observe the titer of the treated product in flocculation units per volume units (FU/ml) and the time of flocculation (Kf). Thus, if no further flocculation is observed in the medium during treatment, it is certain that the detoxified product has been denatured. It is therefore necessary, to observe the loss of lowering of the titer (FU/ml) on the one hand, and the increase in the flocculation time (Kf) on the other hand. These two elements of observation enable the desired duration of contact of glutaraldehyde with the toxic product, for a given concentration of glutaraldehyde, and vice-versa, to be determined.

This invention proposes a certain number of means, used alone or in combination, for stopping the reaction as soon as the product has been detoxified. A first means for stopping the reaction consists in removing the excess of glutaraldehyde chemically by adding to the reaction mixture a chemical agent able to react with the free glutaraldehyde. Among the various chemical agents able to react with aldehydes, the amino acids, such as lysine or glycin, or inorganic salts, such as sodium bisulphite, are preferably used. As example, an aqueous lysine solution of pH between about 7 and 8 can be used.

Another method for removing the excess of glutaraldehyde from the reaction mixture consists in using physical means, particularly by dialyzing the medium against a buffer solution, such as a sodium phosphate or chloride buffer. In the case of the treatment of germs with glutaraldehyde, another method consists in centrifuging the germs and washing them to remove the excess of glutaraldehyde. In this case, it may be advantageous to select a concentration of glutaraldehyde corresponding to a duration of detoxifying treatment, compatible with the duration of the washing centrifuging operation.

It will also be pointed out that the products detoxified by the glutaraldehyde treatment according to this invention, can be directly used as vaccines in a fluid form. However, it is also possible to prepare vaccines in an adsorbed form, when a calcium chloride solution is added to the fluid vaccine, obtained, for example, by dialysis against a buffer solution, such as a sodium phosphate buffer, a calcium chloride solution or, when aluminum hydroxide or phosphate is added to the liquid vaccine, obtained by dialysis against a sodium chloride solution; a vaccine adsorbed on the conventional adjuvants (aluminum hydroxide, calcium phosphate, etc.) is thus obtained.

The vaccines according to this invention are characterized in that the glutaraldehyde molecules have reacted with the toxic product.

In this connection, glutaraldehyde acts in a manner fundamentally different from formaldehyde. Glutaraldehyde is a bifunctional reagent able to simultaneously detoxify the toxic starting product and inducing cross-linking or bridging reactions on the molecules of said product.

Studies were effected to characterize the products resulting from the reaction of glutaraldehyde and the toxic product. Said studies involved flowing through a column and ultracentrifugation of various products. In the case of the diphtherial toxin for example, it was shown that the native toxin comprised essentially monomer products, the percentage of dimers being lower than about 10%. In the case of a detoxification treatment of said diphtherial toxin by formaldehyde, it is found that the reaction product is essentially monomer, the solution containing substantially no dimers in the limits of about 3 to 5%. According to the process of this invention, i.e. the treatment of the diphtherial toxin by glutaralhyde, the reaction product consists substantially of highly aggregated molecules of variable molecular weight. The residual amount of monomer products is in the range of about 5 to 10%.

According to this invention, no formation of a precipitate in the liquid reaction mixture is observed, as it would be the case if a high molecular weight polymer were formed. Said property is of critical importance, as it is due to the hereinabove described controlled reaction conditions. Owing to the fact that the reaction of glutaraldehyde and toxic product is stopped as soon as detoxification is obtained, the detoxified product remains efficacious as a vaccine whereas, if the reaction were carried on, it would form compounds which would not have the desired immunizing power.

Thus it is not desirable to carry on the detoxification reaction beyond a threshold, which can be determined each time with regard to the treated toxic product and the conditions of treatment, i.e. essentially the concentration of the glutaraldehyde solution and the duration of treatment.

In the prior art, glutaraldehyde has already been proposed, for example to inactivate viruses, i.e., to prevent their development (see, for example, Fred L. SABEL and al., Applied Microbiology, April 1969, p. 645-646, Vol. 17, No. 4).

The conditions, under which these known processes are carried out do not enable the immunological properties of the initial virus to be retained. For example, in the article by SABEL and al., the concentration of glutaraldehyde is as high as 5% by weight of the reaction mixture, it is a value at which the immunological properties of the viruses disappeared.

According to this invention, on the contrary, the glutaraldehyde treatment is carried out under controlled conditions adapted to vaccine preparation. It is indeed necessary to obtain a viral strain which has lost its properties of multiplication but has retained its vaccinal antigenic structures. According to the fundamental characteristic of the invention, the reaction between glutaraldehyde and the treated product is stopped at a controlled moment, whereby the toxicity of the initial product is removed without its being denatured.

While in no way being bound to a theoretical explanation, it is thought that under the conditions of the reaction carried out according to this invention, glutaraldehyde induces a limited cross-linking or polymerization reaction between the molecules of toxic products, so as to obtain a detoxified product validly usable as a vaccine.

Within the meaning of the present disclosure, the term "toxic product" refers to microbial or venomous toxins, cultures or suspensions of micro-organisms, germs, bacteria and viruses. Thus, the vaccines of this invention can be prepared from various toxins or mixtures of said microbial or venomous toxins, and also from a very wide range of germs, bacteria, viruses and microorganisms.

As an example, it is notably possible according to this invention to prepare vaccines from diphtherial, tetanic and α and β staphylococcus toxins, snake venoms and any other microbial or venomous toxins, such as staphylococcus or whooping-cough (bacteria) or poliomyelitis virus and foot-and-mouth disease virus. In certain cases, mixed vaccines may be obtained insofar as a mixture of toxins, or microbial infectious agents (bacteria, virus and the like) are inactivated by the process of the invention. As example, there may thus be prepared a mixed antidiphtherial-antitetanic vaccine.

In the case of the diphtherial toxin, it is advantageous to effect the treatment with glutaraldehyde and stop the reaction by adding an amino-acid, such as lysine or glycin. The fluid product, obtained by treatment with glutaraldehyde, can also be subjected to a dialysis against a phosphate buffer solution, thus obtaining a product, which can also be used as a vaccine, and which contains anatoxins in the adsorbed form, after precipitation of the phosphate ions by means of calcium. It is advantageous to add, to the buffer solution, a substance for preventing contamination, such as merthiolate

In the case of tetanic toxin, it is also possible to prepare a fluid vaccine containing anatoxins or a vaccine in the adsorbed form.

In the case of crude or purified α-staphylococcus toxin, it is also possible to effect the glutaraldehyde treatment and submit the obtained product to the action of lysine, glycin or to dialysis against a sodium chloride buffer solution, added with merthiolate.

In the case of the detoxification of venoms, vaccines are obtained by treatment with glutaraldehyde, advantageously followed by a dialysis or an addition of an amino acid. The following procedure can be used to prepare the vaccine: after having added merthiolate to the liquid anavenom, the mixture is dialyzed against a 0.07 M Na₂ HPO₄ phosphate buffer solution with merthiolate and filtered through a Seitz-type sterilizing filter, thus providing a fluid vaccine containing liquid anatoxins. This can be mixed with a sterile 0.07 M calcium chloride solution, thus providing a vaccine adsorbed on calcium phosphate the pH of which is adjusted to 6.8 - 7.00.

According to an another embodiment, it is also possible to dialyze the fluid vaccine against a sodium chloride solution, filter it and add aluminum hydroxide or diphosphate as adjuvant.

Similarly, whooping-cough vaccines can be prepared in the fluid and adsorbed form.

In the case of the inactivation of poliomyelitis viruses, it is advantageous, among other things, to adjust the glutaraldehyde concentration in order to reduce to a minimum the risk of virus denaturation.

Generally speaking, one skilled in the art has at his disposal a certain number of factors, which can be varied in order to obtain efficacious and satisfying vaccines, and essentially the following factors: the concentration of glutaraldehyde, the time of contact with the toxic product, the nature of said toxic product; the purity of the toxic product can also play a part, as well as the temperature of treatment, although it is generally approximately ambient temperature, or in the range of 35°-40°C, notably 37°C.

It goes without saying that, among the factors which have an influence on the control of the process, the physical and chemical means enabling the reaction of glutaraldehyde on the toxic product to be stopped, should also be taken into account. Throughout the present disclosure, notably where the detailed embodiments of the process are described, when the times of contact or incubation are mentioned, this means the exact duration of contact between the glutaraldehyde and the toxic product, the reaction being stopped immediately after the given time by at least one of the hereinabove described physical or chemical means.

As it was hereinabove pointed out, an advantageous method for controlling the proper toxicity of glutaraldehyde consists in carrying out the inactivation treatment by means of glutaraldehyde and in adding lysine to the reaction medium. Lysine is an advantageous representative example of an amino-acid or equivalent chemical agent able to block the glutaraldehyde-antigen reaction.

The process of the present invention provides atoxic derivatives for use as fluid vaccines, having a high immunizing power, such as fluid vaccines, which can be used as they are or in the presence of the conventional adjuvants (aluminum hydroxide or phosphate, calcium phosphate, oil-water mixtures etc.).

From another point of view, the invention also relates to the hyperimmune sera obtained by taking samples from man or an animal, such as the horse, donkey or goat, to whom a vaccine according to the invention is administered at short time intervals in accordance with the conventional immunization methods. Said sera can be used, in a known manner, on man and animals for the preventive and curative treatment of infections caused by microorganisms or their derivatives corresponding to the vaccine administered. Said sera are also applicable as diagnostic products.

The following description deals more particularly with the action of glutaraldehyde at variable concentrations based on the time of contact, at 37°C, on toxins at various stages of purification, on bacteria, venoms and viruses.

The following disclosure concerns, successively:

A - diphtherial toxin

B - tetanic toxin

C - crude α staphylococcal toxin

D - purified α staphylococcal toxin

E - crude β staphylococcal toxin

F - purified β staphylococcal toxin

G - venoms of Aspis, Berus and Ammodytes vipers and other snakes

H - staphylococcal germs

I - whooping-cough bacillus

J- poliomyelitis viruses

K- foot-and-mouth disease viruses

The immunogenic power of the derivatives was also studied in a certain number of cases.

In paragraph L, the proper toxicity of glutaraldehyde is studied. Finally, in paragraph M the preparation of a mixed antitetanic-antidiphtherial vaccine is illustrated.

The molar concentrations of used glutaraldehyde were as follows:

0.0263 M = 10.7 ml of glutaraldehyde per liter (25% solution)

0.00263 M = 1.07 ml of glutaraldehyde per liter

0.0526 M = 21.4 ml of glutaraldehyde per liter

0.00526 M = 2.14 ml of glutaraldehyde per liter.

A certain number of different concentrations were also studied, notably, weaker concentrations up to 0.00131 M or less, according to the type of treated toxic product.

The following detailed disclosure shows the influence of various factors on the reaction between the toxic product and glutaraldehyde, and illustrates the means for controlling the reaction, according to the process of the invention.

The following abbreviations will be used to designate the reactions observed on laboratory animals:

    ______________________________________                                         Er      Erythema                                                               ES      Eschar                                                                 ES→cic                                                                          Eschar in process of cicatrization                                     Cic  ES Cicatrized eschar                                                      SES     Small eschar                                                           SE.sub.r                                                                               Small erythema                                                         ES tr   Eschar traces                                                          SI      Slight induration                                                      VSI     Very slight induration                                                 SL      Slight reaction in the form of an erythema                             VSL     Very slight reaction in the form of an                                         erythema                                                               N       Nodule                                                                 Ntr     Nodule traces                                                          SN      Small nodule                                                           tr      traces                                                                 NTR     Nothing to report                                                      Nd      no-dilued.                                                             ______________________________________                                    

The following description also contains the below abbreviations:

    ______________________________________                                         FU       Flocculation units                                                    IAU      International antitoxic units                                         MHD      Minimum hemolytic dose                                                CHD      Combined hemolytic dose                                               ______________________________________                                    

A. STUDY OF THE DETOXIFICATION OF DIPHTHERIAL TOXIN

1. The action of glutaraldehyde on pure 500 FU/ml toxin

Tables 1 and 2 give the results, obtained by the action of glutaraldehyde at final concentrations of 0.0263 M and 0.00263 M.

The action of glutaraldehyde at a concentration of 0.0263 M, i.e., equal to the amount of formol usually used to detoxify said toxin during a time period of at least 2 weeks at 37°C, caused the toxin to completely lose its flocculating power after contact for 1 hour at the same temperature.

At a concentration of 0.00263 M glutaraldehyde, the obtained flocculating power was much less pronounced, but higher than the one observed with formol after a prolonged period of contact.

Experiments on the residual toxicity of the preparations on the guinea pig, show that after contact for 1 hour at a concentration of 0.00263 M, the toxin was substantially completely detoxified. After 3 hours contact, the preparation assaying 420 FU/ml no longer caused the death of the guinea pig.

The proper toxicity of glutaraldehyde is removed either by the action of lysine or by dialysis.

2. The action of glutaraldehyde on a partially purified P₂ type toxin.

Tables 3 and 4 give the results obtained by the action of glutaraldehyde on a partially purified 2,500 FU/ml toxin.

In this case higher concentrations of glutaraldehyde need to be used to obtain total detoxification. The preparation is completely detoxified by the action of 0.0263 M glutaraldehyde after contact for 3 hours, but at a concentration of 0.00263 remains toxic after contact for 1 week.

In this case, a decrease of the flocculating power is also observed.

3. The action of glutaraldehyde on an ultrafiltered crude 4,5000 FU/ml diphtherial toxin.

Tables 5 and 6 give the results of experiments conducted with a final glutaraldehyde concentration of 0.0263 M and 0.00263 M.

It is observed, that a complete detoxification is again obtained after contact for 1 hour with the 0.0263 M concentration.

The preparation is not detoxified after 2 weeks contact with the 0.00263 M concentration.

4. Results of detoxification experiments on the diphtherial toxin.

Complete detoxification of the diphtherial toxin without denaturation can be obtained after contact of 1 to 3 hours, providing that the concentrations of glutaraldehyde with regard to the proteic concentration of the used preparation are respected.

It is necessary to use higher concentrations of glutaraldehyde if a crude preparation (of higher protein content) or a higher concentration of the preparation is to be detoxified.

The detoxification conditions should therefore be specified by a preliminary study. The process of the invention has the advantage of being much more rapid than the process of detoxifying by the action of formol and heat.

Preparation of diphtherial anatoxins by the action of glutaraldehyde on a pure toxin and study of their vaccinal power in the fluid or adsorbed form

In the following study, the influence of lysine on immunizing power was studied. It was thus possible to determine that anatoxins, detoxified by glutaraldehyde, with the reaction stoppped by lysine, have a higher immunizing power than anatoxins obtained without the use of lysine.

The anatoxins obtained after 1 and 3 h incubation with 0.00623 M glutaraldehyde and with or without stabilization with lysine were studied.

Table 9 again shows that the preparations are not completely detoxified after contact for 1 hour. After contact for 3 hours, eschare form on the animals, tested with the preparation without lysine; said reactions are certainly due to the presence of free glutaraldehyde, they are not observed after interaction with lysine.

These observations are confirmed by research into the dermonecrotic toxicity of the same anatoxins following dialysis (see table 10)

This time, similar reactions are observed with the preparations after contact for 3 hours (absence of free lysine). A slight reaction is observed with undiluted preparations, certainly due to irritation.

The preparations obtained after contact for 1 hour are toxic.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Detoxification of pure 500 FU/ml diphtherial toxin by the action               of glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.0263 M                                           Innocuity test on the guinea pig*                            Time of           Observations after                                           contact at 37°C                                                                   FU/ml Kf                                                                               24 h                                                                               48 h                                                                               72 h                                                                               1 week                                                                             2 weeks                                                                             3 weeks                                                                             4 weeks                            __________________________________________________________________________     1'        470   1'                                                                               --  --  --  --  --   --   --                                           does not                                                                               ES  ES  ES  ES  ES→                                                                          ES   ES→                         1 h       flocculate                                                                           --                                                                               ES  ES  ES  ES  cic. ES   cic                                                                  ES→                                                                               ES                                                                   cic.      cic                                          does not                                                                               NTR NTR tr  NTR NTR  NTR  NTR                                3 h       flocculate                                                                           --                                                                               NTR SES SES EStr                                                                               EStr→                                                                        N    NTR                                                                  cic                                                    does not                                                                               SES ES  ES  ES  ES→                                                                          ES   ES                                                                   cic.      cic.                               6 h       flocculate                                                                           --                                                                               NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR                                          does not                                                                               SES ES  ES  ES  ES→                                                                          ES   ES                                                                   cic       cic                                24 h      flocculate                                                                           --                                                                               NTR SES SES SN  NTR  NTR  NTR                                          does not                                                                               NTR NTR NTR NTR dead                                         1 week    flocculate                                                                           --                                                                               NTR ES  ES  ES  ES   dead                                    __________________________________________________________________________      *subcutaneous injection of 0.5 ml to two 250 g guinea pigs               

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Detoxification of a pure 500 FU/ml diphtherial toxin by the action of          glutaraldehyde at a                                                            final concentration of 0.00263 M                                               Time of                                                                              FU/ml  Kf   Innocuity test on the guinea pig                             contact at        observations after                                           37°C       24 h                                                                               48 h                                                                               72 h                                                                               1 week                                                                             2 weeks                                                                             3 weeks                                                                             4 weeks                            __________________________________________________________________________     1'    500    1'   --  --  --  --  --   --   --                                 1 h   450    6'   ES  SL ES                                                                              SL  SES tr   ES   dead                                                         SES     EScic                                                          SL  SL  VSL tr  NTR  NTR  dead                               3 h   420    9'   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR                                                  SL SES                                                                             SL tr                                                                              tr  NTR NTR  NTR  NTR                                                      ES                                                       6 h   400    16'  SL  NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR                                                  Se.sub.r                                                                           tr  tr  NTR NTR  SN   NTR                                24 h  350    1h 20                                                                               NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR                                                  VSL tr  NTR NTR NTR  NTR  ill*                               48 h  330    2h05 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR                                                  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR                                1 week                                                                               325    >3h  ill NTR NTR NTR ill  dead                                          fine        NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR                                           precipitate                                                              2 weeks                                                                              225    >7h  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR                                                fine                                                                           precipitate NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR                                          __________________________________________________________________________      *ill = ill                                                               

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Detoxification of partially purified 2500 FU/ml diphtherial toxin              (P.sub.2) by the                                                               action of glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.0263 M                  Time of                                                                              Flocculation before                                                                       Inocuity test on the guinea pig*                              contact at                                                                           dialysis   observations after                                            37°C                                                                          FU/ml  Kf  24 h                                                                              48 h                                                                              72 h                                                                              1 week                                                                             2 weeks                                                                             3 weeks                                     __________________________________________________________________________     1'    2,400  3'  -- -- -- --  --   --                                                           NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR NTR  NTR                                         3 h   1,450  50'                                                                                NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR NTR  NTR                                         24 h  1,400  5 h NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               dead                                                                  NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR NTR  NTR                                               1,250                                                                    3 days                                                                               fine   24 h                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR NTR  NTR                                               precipitate                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR NTR  NTR                                         1 week                                                                               1,000  24 h                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR NTR  NTR                                               cloudy     NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR                                                                               NTR NTR  NTR                                         __________________________________________________________________________      *subcutaneous injection of 0.5 ml to two 250 g guinea pigs after dilution      to 1/10 with a sterile 9%o NaCl solution.                                

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Detoxification of partially purified 2500 FU/ml diphtherial toxin by the       action                                                                         of glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.00263 M                        Time of                                                                              Flocculation before dialysis                                             contact at                                                                           against K/K.sub.2 M/15                                                                        Flocculation after dialysis                                                                   Innocuity test on the                      37°C                                                                          buffer         against K/K.sub.2 buffer                                                                       guinea pig                                __________________________________________________________________________           FU/ml                                                                               Kf        FU/ml    Kf                                               1'    2,400                                                                               2'                                                                  3 h   2,250                                                                               3'        2,125    4'    dead 24 h after the injection              24 h  2,125                                                                               3'        2,125    4'    dead 24 h after the injection              3 days                                                                               2,100                                                                               7'        2,100    4'    dead 24 h after the injection              1 week                                                                               1,850                                                                               10'       1,850    5'    dead 24 h after the                        __________________________________________________________________________                                         injection                             

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                         Detoxification of ultrafiltered crude 4500 FU/ml diphtherial toxin             by the action of glutaraldehyde at a final                                     concentration of 0.0263 M                                                      Time of                Innocuity test on the guinea pig*                       contact                                                                               FU/ml   Kf      observation after                                       at 37°C         24 h 48 h 72 h 1 week                                                                               2 weeks                            ______________________________________                                         1'     4,300   4'      --   --   --   --    --                                 1 h    3,900   11'     NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR                                                       NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR                                3 h    3,800   14'     NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR                                                       NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR                                6 h    3,600   22'     NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR                                                       NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR                                24 h   3,375   35'     NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                                                             NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                                      1 week 3,000   3 h     NTR  NTR  NTR  dead                                                            NTR  NTR  NTR                                           2 weeks                                                                               2,820   2 h 30  NTR  NTR  NTR  dead                                                            NTR  NTR  NTR                                           ______________________________________                                          *Subcutaneous injection of 0.5 ml to two 250 g guinea pigs after dilution      to 1/10 with a sterile 9%o NaCl solution                                 

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                         Detoxification of crude 4500 FU/ml diphtherial toxin by the -action of         glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.00263 M                           Time of contact                                                                at 37°C                                                                           FU/ml   Kf    Innocuity test on the guinea pig                       ______________________________________                                         1'        4,500   3'                                                           1 h       4,500   4'    dead 24 h after the injection                          3 h       4,500   4'    dead 24 h after the injection                          6 h       4,500   4'    dead 24 h after the injection                          24 h      3,800   4'    dead 24 h after the injection                          1 week    3,250   5'    dead 24 h after the injection                          2 weeks   3,150   3'    dead 24 h after the injection                          ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 9                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Preparation of an anatoxin by the action of glutaraldehyde at a                final concentration of 0.00263 M                                               1 - Controls before dialysis                                                   Time of         Innocuity test on the guinea pig                               contact at      observations after                                             37°C                                                                           FU/ml                                                                               Kf  24 h 48 h 1 week                                                                             2 weeks                                                                             3 weeks                                     __________________________________________________________________________     1'     520  1'30                                                                               --   --   --  --   --                                          1 h    500  4'  ES SI                                                                               ES SI                                                                               dead                                                                 SL SI                                                                               SI   dead                                                 1 h +                                                                          lysine 475  4'30                                                                               NTR  SN   N   NTR  NTR                                         0.01 M 15'      SL SI                                                                               VSL  N   dead                                             3 h    450  7'  VSL  SI   ES  ES   ES cic.                                                     SL SI                                                                               SI ES                                                                               ES  ES   ES cic.                                     3 h +                                                                          lysine 430  8'  NTR  ES   NTR NTR  NTR                                         o.01M 15'       NTR  VSI  NTR NTR  NTR                                         __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 10                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Preparation of an anatoxin by the action of glutarldehyde at a final           concentration of 0.00263                                                       2 - Controls after dialysis against a 0.07 M Na.sub.2 HPO.sub.4 solution       + merthiolate 1 : 10,000                                                       Time of                                                                               Before                                                                  contact                                                                               dialysis after dialysis                                                                          Dermonectoric toxicity in the rabbit*                        volume   volume                                                         at 37°C                                                                        in ml                                                                              FU/ml                                                                               in ml                                                                              FU/ml                                                      __________________________________________________________________________     1 h    30  500  28.6                                                                               450  Nd   >20  >20 PES                                                              1/10 16   18                                                                   1/100                                                                               0    0                                                                    1/1000                                                                              0    0                                                                    Nd   >20 ES                                                                              >20 ES                                      1 h +                    1/10 >20  >20                                         lysine 30  475  27.5                                                                               440  1/100                                                                               12   16                                          0.01 M                   1/1000                                                                              0    0                                           15'                                                                            3 h    30  450  27.5                                                                               430  Nd   12   9                                                                    1/10 0    0                                                                    1/100                                                                               0    0                                                                    1/1000                                                                              0    0                                           3h +   30  450  28.1                                                                               420  Nd   14   no dif.                                     lysine                   1/10 0    0                                           0.01M 15'                1/100                                                                               0    0                                                                    1/1000                                                                              0    0                                           __________________________________________________________________________      *Intradermic injection of 0.1 ml to two white male rabbits. Reactions are      determined 48 hours after the injection.                                 

Tables 11 to 14 show that the weight evolution of vaccinated animals is normal with the four types of anatoxins (adsorbed and non-adsorbed). An erythema or nodule is observed on animals, vaccinated with the adsorbed vaccine; this is absolutely normal.

On the whole, the four vaccines are perfectly well tolerated; no deaths occurred during the observation period.

Table 15 gives the titer of the circulating antibodies in International Units. The adsorbed vaccines have a higher immunological activity than fluid vaccines.

The adsorbed anatoxin, obtained by stopping the raction by lysine, gives the best immunological response.

Weight evolution and tolerance in the guinea pig, vaccinated with two injections, at 15 days interval, with:

-the fluid anatoxin (obtained without the use of lysine)

the fluid anatoxin (obtained with the use of lysine)

-adsorbed anatoxin (obtained without the use of lysine)

-adsorbed anatoxin (obtained with the use of lysine)

Study of the vaccinal power of fluid anatoxins obtained by the action of 0.0263 M glutaraldehyde after various times of contact, on a partially purified 2000 UF/ml diphtherial toxin (P₂)

Table 16 shows again that, at 37°C, the loss of flocculating titer increases with the length of contact.

The different anatoxins were diluted to 30 FU/ml, based on the starting titer, and injected to guinea pigs in the fluid form.

Table 17 shows that the level of antibodies, obtained after said vaccinations decreases after contact for 1 minute. There is therefore no derivative formation with a vaccinal power comparable with the one of the adsorbed anatoxins previously studied.

                                      TABLE 11                                     __________________________________________________________________________     30 FU/ml fluid anatoxin                                                        obtained after 3 h contact with glutaraldehyde at a final concentration        of 0.00263 M                                                                                                        2 weeks                                   1st inj.                                                                              24 h     48 h     4 days                                                                              5 days (2nd inj.)                                                                              3 weeks                          weight com-              comments                                                                            weight com-                                      ments  comments weight                                                                         comments weight                                                                         weight                                                                              ments  weight comments                                                                         weight comments                  __________________________________________________________________________     280 g. NTR      VSI      NTR  320 g  330 g    380 g                            275 g. SI       NTR      VSL  325 g  340 g    380 g                            300 g. NTR      NTR      NTR  340 g  370 g 410 g                               280 g. tr       VSL      VSL  325 g  360 g:TR N                                                                              420 g -280                                                                              NTR NTR NTR 315                                                                g 330 g 360 g           310 g. NTR      NTR      N    325 g  360 g    400 g                            __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 12                                     __________________________________________________________________________     30 FU/ml fluid anatoxin                                                        obtained after 3 h contact with glutaraldehyde at a final concentration        of                                                                             0.00263 M and after action of lysine for 15 min at 37°C                                                            2 weeks                             1st inj.                                                                               24h      48h     4 days   5 days   (2nd inj.)                                                                            3 weeks                      __________________________________________________________________________     weight com-                                weight com-                                                                           comments                     ments  comments weight                                                                         comments weight                                                                         comments weight                                                                         weight comments                                                                         ments  weight                       __________________________________________________________________________     310 g  SI       SI       VSI      320 g    360 g  390 g                        290 g  NTR      NTR      NTR      290 g    340 g  380 g                        295 g  NTR      NTR      NTR      310 g    350 g  390 g                        280 g  SI       NTR      NTR      300 g    320 g  350 g                        260 g  SI       VSI      VSI      270 g    290 g  310 g                        310 g  NTR      VSI      NTR      330 g    360 g  390 g                        __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 13                                     __________________________________________________________________________     30 FU/ml adsorbed anatoxin                                                     obtained after 3 h contact at 37° C with glutaraldehyde to a final      concentration                                                                  of 0.00263 M                                                                                                              2 weeks                             1st inj.                                   (2nd inj.)                                                                            3 weeks                      weight com-                                                                           24 h     48 h     4 days   5 days   weight com-                                                                           weight com-                  ments  comments weight                                                                         comments weight                                                                         comments weight                                                                         weight comments                                                                         ments  ments                        __________________________________________________________________________            Er       Er       N                                                     290 g  14       14       pinkish  320 g    350 g: N                                                                              365 g: N                     280 g  Er       Er       N        315 g    340 g: N                                                                              340 g N                             12       12       pinkish                                               290 g  VSL      VSL      N        325 g    340 g  400 g N                                               pinkish                                               270 g  SI       SI       S Er     325 g    350 g  380 g NTR                    270 g  Er       Er       N        300 g    340 g: N                                                                              370 g N                             12       12       pinkish                                               290 g  VSL      Er       SN       315 g    380 g  410 g SN                                     10       S Er                                                  __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 14                                     __________________________________________________________________________     30 FU/ml adsorbed anatoxin                                                     obtained after 3 h contact with glutaraldehyde at a final concentration        of                                                                             0.00263M and after action of lysine for 15 min at 37° C                                                    2 weeks                                     1st inj.                                                                              24 h   48 h   4 days 5 days (2nd inj.)                                  weight com-                                                                           weight com-                                                                           weight com-                                                                           weight com-                                                                           weight com-                                                                           weight com-                                                                           3 weeks                              ments  ments  ments  ments  ments  ments  weight comments                      __________________________________________________________________________     300 g  Er 11  Er 11  N      350 g  370 g : N                                                                             400 g                                                     pinkish -310 g                                                                        Er 11  Er 11  N        335 g 350 g : N 360 g                            pinkish                                                                        white                                                     250 g  Er 11  Er 11  SN     320 g  320 g  350 g                                                     slightly                                                                       pinkish                                                   300 g  NTR    VSL    N      300 g  360 g  400 g                                310 g  Er 11  Er 11  N      330 g  350 g : N                                                                             370 g                                                     pinkish                                                   300 g  Er 20  Er 15  N      325 g  340 g : N                                                                             390 g                                                     pinkish                                                   __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 15                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Titer of antidiphtherial antibodies circulating after two vaccinal             injections of fluid or                                                         adsorbed anatoxins.                                                            Anatoxins obtained after 3 h incubation at 37°C with a 0.00263 M        glutaraldehyde solution,                                                       the reaction being stopped by the action of lysine or by dialysis                             Titer of circulating antibodies in I.A.U./ml                    Time of incubation at 37°C                                                             30 FU/ml fluid vaccines                                                                      30 FU/ml adsorbed vaccines                        __________________________________________________________________________     3 h            0,75          2                                                 3 h + lysine 15'                                                                              0,75          2,5                                               __________________________________________________________________________      Titers are determined on mixtures of sampled blood of equal volume.      

                  TABLE 16                                                         ______________________________________                                         Study of the vaccinating power of fluid antatoxins                             obtained by the action of 0.0263 M glutaraldehyde                              on a partially purified 2000 FU/ml diptherial toxin                            (P.sub.2)                                                                      1. Preparation of anatoxins                                                    Time of                                                                        contact    Flocculation before                                                                            Flocculation after                                  at 37°C                                                                            dialysis        dialysis                                                     FU/ml   Kf        FU/ml     Kf                                        ______________________________________                                         1 mn       1,650     4'        1,200   4'                                      3 h        1,260     55'       1,170   1 h                                     24h        1,060     1 h 30    1,000   4 h                                     3 days     1,000     24 h      900     24 h                                    1 week     900       24 h      900     24 h                                    ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 17                                                         ______________________________________                                         2. Titer of circulating diphtherial antibodies expressed                       in International Antitoxic Units after two vaccinal injec-                     tions of different anatoxins                                                   Time of                                                                        contact           30 FU/ml fluid anatoxins                                     at 37°C    I.A.U./ml                                                    ______________________________________                                         1 mn              0,25                                                         3 h               < 0,01                                                       24 h              < 0,01                                                       3 days            < 0,01                                                       1 week            < 0,01                                                       ______________________________________                                    

The following description also gives the results obtained with detoxification of a partially purified 2,500 FU/ml diphtherial toxin (P₂) by the action of glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.0263 M for various times of contact. The vaccinal power of the various anatoxins thus obtained was also studied.

1. Detoxification

The following times of contact were used:

1 min, 7 min, 20 min, 1 hr, 3 hr, 19 hr.

Table 17a shows that the toxin is already detoxified after contact for 1 minute and that its flocculating power greatly decreases as with regard to the time of contact.

2. Flowing on a "Sephadex G 100" column.

The curve obtained after flowing 10 ml, 2,500 FU/ml diphtherial toxin P₂, used as control, shows a peak at tube n°26 usually corresponding to the monomer toxin.

On the other hand, after flowing 10 ml of various anatoxins on the column, peaks are observed at tubes No. 16, indicating the presence of high molecular weight proteins corresponding to polymerized toxins.

The amount of polymer toxin increases with the time of contact at + 37°C.

Table 17b gives the results obtained. It is interesting to note the correlation between the results of detoxification and the degree of toxin polymerization. It is noted that the longer the duration of the reaction is, the more the amount of polymer toxin increases, whereas, to provide valid vaccines, detoxification must be stopped very quickly. Therefore, according to the invention, the degree of toxin polymerization is limited.

3. Study on the vaccinal power of polymer peaks (tubes No. 16)

The anatoxins recovered in tubes No. 16, diluted to 30 FU/ml, are injected in the liquid form.

The anatoxins obtained after 1 min and 7 min contact with glutaraldehyde provide a higher antibody titer than the one obtained with a formolized toxin.

Titers decrease with longer contact times (table 17c)

                                      TABLE 17a                                    __________________________________________________________________________     STUDY ON THE VACCINAL POWER OF FLUID ANATOXINS, OBTAINED BY THE                ACTION OF 0.0263 M GLUTARALDEHYDE FOR VARIOUS DURATIONS OF CONTACT             ON A PARTIALLY PURIFIED 2,500 FU/ml DIPHTHERIAL TOXIN (P.sub.2)                I. Detoxification of the (P.sub.2) toxin                                       Time of          Innocuity test on the guinea pig                              contact at       Comments after :                                              37°C                                                                          FU/ml                                                                               Kf    inj.                                                                               2 days                                                                             3 days                                                                             4 days                                                                             5 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             7 days                                __________________________________________________________________________     I mn  I600 3 mn  355 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 330                                                    350 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 380                                   7 mn  1140 3mn   350 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 360                                                    375 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 400                                   20 mn 875  3 mn  335 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 370                                                    310 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 370                                   I h   720  4 mn  345 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 360                                                    345 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 370                                   3 h   525  5 mn  350 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 350                                                    345 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 380                                   I9 h  400  1.5 mn                                                                               320 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 350                                                    305 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 330                                   __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 17b                                    __________________________________________________________________________     RESULTS OBTAINED AFTER FLOWING ON A COLUMN, OF A PARTIALLY                     PURIFIED 2,500 FU/ml DIPHTHERIAL TOXIN, DETOXIFIED BY THE                      ACTION OF 0.0263 M GLUTARALDEHYDE FOR VARIOUS TIMES OF                         CONTACT                                                                        __________________________________________________________________________     Glutaraldehyde                                                                         Controls                                                               Duration of                                                                            0      I mn 7 mn 20 mn                                                                               I h 3 h I9 h                                     contact                                                                        Temperature                                                                            0      37°C                                                                         37°C                                                                         37°C                                                                         37°C                                                                        37°C                                                                        37°C                              FU/ml   2,500  I,600                                                                               I,I40                                                                               875  720 525 400                                                               Polymer                                               Nature of the                                                                          monomer          (tubes n° I6)                                  Toxin   tube n°26 increasing amount                                     __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 17c                                                        ______________________________________                                         TITERS OF CIRCULATING DIPHTHERIAL ANTIBODIES EX-                               PRESSED IN INTERNATIONAL ANATOXICANTS AFTER TWO                                VACCINAL INJECTIONS OF VARIOUS ANTATOXINS                                      DILUTED TO 30 FU/ml                                                            ANATOXINS OBTAINED BY THE                                                      ACTION OF:                IAU/ml                                               ______________________________________                                                        I mn at 37°C                                                                           I                                                               7 mn at 37°C                                                                           0.50                                                            20 mn at 37°C                                                                          0.25                                             Gluataraldehyde                                                                after                                                                                         1 h at 37°C                                                                            0.25                                                            3 h at 37°C                                                                            0.25                                                            I9 h at 37°C                                                                            0.075                                           Formol (control)              0.25                                             ______________________________________                                    

Detoxification of 3,000 FU/ml diphtherial toxin (P₂), partially purified by the action of glutaraldehyde, was also studied at variable concentrations and times of contact.

The following concentrations were used: 0.00263 M, 0.00526 M, 0.00789 M, 0.0105 M, 0.0131 M, 0.0157 M

Durations of contact vary from 5 minutes to 3 hours.

Table 17d shows that detoxification is obtained after 30 minutes contact at + 37°C for 0.0157 M and 0.0131 M concentrations of glutaraldehyde, after 1 hour of contact for 0.0105 M concentration, and after 3 hours contact for 0.00789 M concentration. Samples submitted to the action of concentration of 0.00526 M and 0.00263 M were not detoxified after contact of 3 hours.

                  Table 17d                                                        ______________________________________                                         DETOXIFICATION OF 3,000 FU/ml DIPHTHERIAL TOXIN (P.sub.2),                     PARTIALLY PURIFIED BY THE ACTION OF GLUTARAL-                                  DEHYDE AT VARIABLE CONCENTRATIONS AND                                          DURATIONS OF CONTACT                                                                                         TOXICITY                                                   Durations of        (MONITORED ON                                    Concentrations                                                                           contact    FU/ml    THE GUINEA PIG)                                  ______________________________________                                         0.00263 M 1       h      2,400  Toxic                                                    3       h      2,200                                                           15      mn     2,280                                                 0.00526 M 1       h      2,000  Toxic                                                    3       h      1,950                                                           15      mn     2,200  Toxic                                          0.00789 M 1       h      1,800                                                           3       h      1,500  Detoxified                                               5       mn     2,280  Toxic                                          0.0105 M  30      mn     1,800                                                           1       h      1,500  Detoxified                                               5       mn     2,375  Toxic                                          0.0131 M  30      mn     1,400                                                           1       h      1,350  Detoxified                                               5       mn     1,800  Toxic                                          0.0157 M  30      mn     1,290                                                           1       h      1,200  Detoxified                                     ______________________________________                                    

B. Study on the detoxification of purified tetanic toxin.

1. Action of glutaraldehyde on 500 FU/ml purified toxin.

Table 18 gives the results of experiments effected with a final glutaraldehyde concentration of 0.00263 M.

Complete detoxification is obtained after contact for 1 minute. It is noted a decrease in the flocculating titer greater than the one observed with formol after a duration of contact greater than or equal to 1 hour.

2. Preparation of tetanus anatoxins by the action of glutaraldehyde or formol and comparative studies on the vaccinal powers in the fluid or adsorbed form.

The anatoxin preparations were studied after contact for 5 minutes and 1 hours with glutaraldehyde using as control an anatoxin detoxified by formol under the conventional conditions.

All 6 vaccines are very well tolerated:neither reactions nor loss of weight are observed in tested animals;.

Table 19 gives the titers of circulating antibodies.

The vaccines obtained by the action of glutaraldehyde, and notably the one obtained after contact for 5 minutes, have a higher immunological activity than those obtained by the action of formol.

Fluid or adsorbed anatoxins prepared with glutaraldehyde give practically the same immunological response, whereas the anatoxin prepared by the action of formal gives a better response than the same fluid preparation.

Detoxification of purified 525 FU/ml tetanus toxin by the action of glutaraldehyde was also studied at variable concentrations and durations of contact.

The following concentrations were used: 0.00263M, 0.00197 M, 0.00131 M, 0.00066 M, 0.00033 M.

Table 19a shows that detoxification is obtained after 15 minutes contact at 37°C for final glutaraldehyde concentrations of 0.00363 M, and 0.00197 M, after 30 minutes contact for a concentrations of 0.00131 M. Samples subjected to the action of concentrations of 0.00066 M and 0.00033 M are not detoxified even after contact for 3 hours.

                  TABLE 18                                                         ______________________________________                                         Detoxification of purified 500 FU/ml tetanic toxin by the action               of glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.00263 M                        Time of                 Innocuity test on mice*                                contact       Injected  comments after                                         at 37°C                                                                        FU/ml   Kf     dilutions                                                                              24 h 48 h 72 h 6 days                            ______________________________________                                         1'     430      20'   1/10    NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                                                     1/100   NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                               1 h    330      40'   1/10    NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                                                     1/100   NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                               3 h    330      60'   1/10    NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                                                     1/100   NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                               6 h    330      60'   1/10    NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                                                     1/100   NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                               24 h   300     1h10   1/10    NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                                                     1/100   NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                               48 h   300     1h15   1/10    NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                                                     1/100   NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                               1 week 300     1h15   1/10    NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                                                     1/100   NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                               2 weeks                                                                               300     1h15   1/10    NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                                                     1/100   NTR  NTR  NTR  NTR                               ______________________________________                                          *Intramuscular injection of 1 ml to 3 mice, after dilution to 1/10 and         1/100 with a sterile 9%o solution                                        

                                      TABLE 19                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Titer of circulating antitetanic antibodies expressed in International         Antitoxic Units after two injections                                           of fluid or adsorbed vaccinal anatoxins obtained after:                        (a) 5' incubation at 37°C with a 0.00263 M glutaraldehyde               solution                                                                       (b) 1 h incubation at 37°C with a 0.00263 M glutaraldehyde              solution                                                                       (c) 2 weeks incubation at 37°C with 2% Formol.                          __________________________________________________________________________     Anatoxins obtained by the               30 FU/ml adsorbed vaccine              action of         30 FU/ml fluid vaccine I.A.U./ml                                                                     I.A.U./ml                              __________________________________________________________________________     (a) glutaraldehyde                                                                               25                    27.5                                   5' contact                                                                     (b) glutaraldehyde                                                                               20                    20                                     (1 h contact)                                                                  (c) formol         2                    8                                      __________________________________________________________________________      Blood samples were taken two weeks after the second injection.                 Sera from 6 vaccinated guinea pigs in each group were mixed in equal           volume.                                                                  

                  TABLE 19a                                                        ______________________________________                                         DETOXIFICATION OF PURIFIED 525 FU/ml                                           TETANUS TOXIN BY THE ACTION OF                                                 GLUTARALDEHYDE AT VARIABLE FINAL                                               CONCENTRATIONS AND TIMES OF CONTACT.                                           ______________________________________                                                                          Toxicity                                                 Duration of           (determined on                                Concentrations                                                                            contact      FU/ml    mouse)                                        ______________________________________                                                     1 mn        470      Toxic                                                     5 mn        450                                                               15 mn        420                                                    0.00263 M  30 mn        400                                                                1 h         380      Detoxified                                                3 h         350                                                                1 mn        480      Toxic                                                     5 mn        470                                                    0.00197 M  15 mn        450                                                               30 mn        425                                                                1 h         400      Detoxified                                                3 h         390                                                                5 mn        470                                                               15 mn        450      Toxic                                         0.00131 M  30 mn        430                                                                1 h         425                                                                3 h         400      Detoxified                                               15 mn        470                                                    0.00066 M  30 mn        470      Toxic                                                     1 h         460                                                                3 h         460                                                               15 mn        470                                                    0.00033 M  30 mn        450      Toxic                                                     1 h         460                                                                3 h         460                                                    ______________________________________                                    

C. The action of glutaraldehyde on a 10 CHD/ml crude α staphylococcus toxin (0.040 mg proteinic N/ml).

Tables 20 and 21 give the results obtained by the action of 0.0526 M and 0.00526 M final concentrations glutaraldehyde.

The action of glutaldehyde at a concentration of 0.0526 M, i.e. corresponding to the amount of formaol usually used to detoxify said toxin for at least one week at 37°, induces immediate detoxification of the toxin. A complete loss of titer is observed after contact for one week at 37°C.

On the other hand, a 0.0056 M concentration does not detoxify after contact for one week at 37°C.

Table 22 shows that a 0.0263 M glutaldehyde concentration is sufficient to detoxify crude toxin in 5 minutes, the titer decreasing after contact for one hours.

Table 23 shows the the titer remains unchanged when the anatoxin is held at + 4°C, in the presence of glutaraldehyde, whereas a decrease is observed with incubation at 37°C, as has been stated.

Table 24 confirms the optimum glutaraldehyde concentration of 0.0263 M to detoxify a 10 U/ml crude toxin in 5 minutes at ambient temperature, without loss of titer if the time of contact is not exceeded,

                  TABLE 20                                                         ______________________________________                                         Detoxification of crude α staphylococcus toxin by the action             glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.0526 M                            ______________________________________                                         Time of                                                                        contact            CHD/ml Titer - Method                                       at 37°C                                                                            MHD/ml      toxin      anatoxin                                     ______________________________________                                         Control*   2,048       10         10                                           5'         0           0          7                                            1 h        0           0          7                                            3 h        0           0          5                                            6 h        0           0          3                                            24 h       0           0          2                                            4 days     0           0          1                                            1 week     0           0          <0.5                                         ______________________________________                                          * Control : toxin without glutaraldehyde                                 

                  TABLE 21                                                         ______________________________________                                         Detoxification of crude α toxin by the action of glutaraldehyde at       a final concentration of 0.00526 M                                             ______________________________________                                         Time of           CHD/ml titer-method                                          at 37°C                                                                            MHC/ml     toxin      anatoxin                                      ______________________________________                                         Control*   2,048      10         10                                            5'         1,024      10         --                                            1 h        1,024      10         --                                            3 h        512        8          8                                             6 h        256        8           10                                           24 h       256        8          8                                             4 days     256        8          8                                             1 week     512        8          8                                             ______________________________________                                          *Control : toxin without glutaraldehyde                                  

                  TABLE 22                                                         ______________________________________                                         Detoxification of crude α toxin by the action of                         glutaraldehyde at a variable final concentration.                              ______________________________________                                                      Time of contact                                                   Final Concentra-                                                                            at normal                                                         tion         temperature  MHD/ml   CHD/ml                                      ______________________________________                                         Toxin without                                                                  glutaraldehyde                                                                              --           2,048    10                                          0.0131 M     5'           64       10                                                       1 h          32       10                                          0.263 M      5'           0        10                                                       1 h          0         8                                          0.0394 M     5'           0        10                                                       1 h          0        --                                          0.0526 M     5'           0        10                                                       1 h          0        --                                          ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 23                                                         ______________________________________                                         Stability of the titer of a crude α toxin detoxified by                  glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.0263 M                            ______________________________________                                                     Conservation temperature                                           Conservation  + 4°C + 37°C                                        time         CHD/ml       CHD/ml                                              ______________________________________                                         5'            10           10                                                  24 h          10           6.6                                                 3 days        10           --                                                  4 days        10           6.6                                                 5 days        10           --                                                  1 week        10           5                                                   2 weeks       10           5                                                   3 weeks       10           --                                                  1 month       10           --                                                  ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 24                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Detoxification of crude α staphylococcus toxin by glutaraldehyde at      variable                                                                       concentration at ambient temperature.                                          __________________________________________________________________________     Time of contact = 5'                                                           Glutaraldehyde at                                                              a final concentration                                                                      Toxin without                                                      of          glutaraldehyde                                                                         0.00526 M                                                                             0.0131 M                                                                             0.0263 M                                                                             0.0394                                                                              0.0526 M                           __________________________________________________________________________     MHD/ml      2.048   1.024  1 28   0     0    0                                 CHD/ml      10      10     10    10    10   10                                 __________________________________________________________________________

D. The action of glutaraldehyde on purified alpha staphylococcus toxin.

Table 25 shows the effect of various concentrations of glutaraldehyde added to a purified α staphylococcus toxin; it is seen that a 0.00526 M concentration is the best to detoxify a 137 CHD/ml toxin (0.633 mg/ml total nitrogen).

Table 26 shows the stability of said anatoxin held at 4°C and 37°C (treated with 0.01 M concentration or subjected to dialysis).

                                      TABLE 25                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Detoxification of a 137 CHd/ml purified α                                staphylococcus toxin (total nitrogen 0.633 mg/ml)                              in bicarbonate solution (1 per 10,000 merthiolate)                             by glutaraldehyde at variable concentrations.                                  __________________________________________________________________________     Duration of contact at                                                         ambient temperature                                                                        0.00131 M                                                                             0.00263 M                                                                             0.00526 M                                                                             0.0131 M                                      __________________________________________________________________________     <5 min                                                                               MHD/ml                                                                               ≧ 1,000                                                                        ≧ 1,000                                                                        ≧ 1,000                                                                        <50                                           30 min                                                                               MHD/ml                                                                               ≧ 1,000                                                                        ≧ 1,000                                                                        ≧ 10                                                                           <10                                           1 hr  MHD/ml                                                                               non detoxi-                                                                           non deto-                                                                             <4     <4                                                  CHD/ml                                                                               fied   xified 138    66                                            Yield efficiency                                                                           --     --     100%   50%                                           __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 26                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Stability monitored on a 137 CHD/ml purified α staphylococcus            toxin in 1 g/l bicarbonate soltuion per 0.00526M/glutaraldehyde                __________________________________________________________________________                Without lysine, dialyzed                                                                   After contact for 15                                               against 9%o NaCl                                                                           min at 37°C with lysine                                     1 per 10,000                                                                               at a final concentra-                                              merthiolated:                                                                              tion of 0.01M,dialyzed                                                         against 9%o NaCl                                                               1 per 10,000 methiola-                                                         ted                                                     After dialysis MHD/ml                                                                     <8          <8                                                       in vivo   NTR         NTR                                                     After being held at                                                                       4°C                                                                             37°C                                                                        4°C                                                                         37°C                                         __________________________________________________________________________     for 20 days                                                                    MHD/ml     <8      <8  <8  <8                                                  in vivo    NTR     NTR NTR NTR                                                 for 31 days                                                                               <8      <8  <8  <8                                                  MHD/ml                                                                         in vivo    NTR     NTR NTR NTR                                                 __________________________________________________________________________

E. Study of the vaccinal power of a crude staphylococcus toxin, detoxified by glutaraldehyde, then purified and adjusted to a titer equivalent to that of known formol vaccines.

Table 27 shows that the immunological activity of the toxin detoxified by glutaraldehyde is equal to that of the toxin detoxified by formol. Table 28 shows the evolution of the levels of antibodies in vaccinated animals.

Table 29 shows that the immunological activity decreased after vaccination with a crude toxin detoxified with an excess of glutaraldehyde i.e corresponding to a 0.0526 M concentration.

                                      TABLE 27                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Comparative amounts of titers of antistaphylolysine obtained                   after vaccination of a rabbit with 6.6 CHD/ml purified                         α anatoxins.                                                             __________________________________________________________________________                                 Detoxification by                                                              glutaraldehyde at a                                                            final concentration                                                            of 0.0263 M,                                                      Detoxification by 4.5%                                                                      duration of contact                                               formol + held at at 37°C                                                                = 5'                                            amount of antistaphyloly-                                                      sine in rabbit serum                                                                           2 U/ml      3 U/ml                                             after three                                                                    1 ml intramuscular injec-                                                      tions of anatoxin at                                                            15 day intervals.                                                                            10 U/ml      3 U/ml                                             Blood sample taken 15 days                                                     after the last injection.                                                                      3 U/ml      3 U/ml                                             __________________________________________________________________________

                  TABLE 28                                                         ______________________________________                                         Evolution of antibody amounts after vaccination with                           purified α staphylococcus anatoxins detoxified by:                       1- 4.5% formol + 9 days at 37°C                                         2- glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.0263 M and                       5' contact                                                                     Titer of purified toxin = 6.6 CHD/ml.                                        ______________________________________                                                Antistaphylolvsine ratio in serum of rabbit,                                   vaccinated with anatoxin                                                Number of                detoxified with                                       injections                                                                              Detoxified with formol                                                                         glutaraldehyde                                        ______________________________________                                         0 control                                                                               <0.1    <0.1    <0.1  <0.1  <0.1  <0.1                                1         0.1     0.5     0.1   0.5   0.5   0.1                                2         0.1     3       3     2     2     2                                  3         2       10      3     3     3     3                                  ______________________________________                                    

Trials were conducted under the following conditions: intramuscular injection of 1 ml vaccine to the rabbit every 15 days Blood sample taken 15 days after each vaccination.

                  TABLE 29                                                         ______________________________________                                         Evolution of the antibody amounts after                                        vaccination of the rabbit by a crude α staphylococcus                    anatoxin detoxified by an excess of glutaraldehyde                             (final concentration 0.0526 M) titer <1 CHD/ml.                                ______________________________________                                         Number of                                                                               Antistaphylolysine ratio in CHD/ml in sera                            injections                                                                              of rabbits vaccinated with anatoxin.                                  ______________________________________                                         0 Control                                                                               <0.1        <0.1        <0.1                                          1        0.1         0.1         0.1                                           2        1           0.5         0.5                                           3        1           0.5         0.5                                           ______________________________________                                    

Trials were conducted under the following conditions : intramuscular injections of 1 ml vaccine to the rabbit every 15 days. Blood samples taken 15 days after each vaccination.

F. Action of glutaraldehyde on crude β staphylococcus toxin.

Tables 30 and 31 relate to a 1.25 CHD/ml toxin, which is not detoxified by glutaraldehyde concentrations of 0.0 526 M and 0.0131 M.

Tables 32 and 33 relate to a 6.6 CHD/ml toxin which is not detoxified by glutaraldehyde at concentrations of 0.0526 M and 0.0131 M.

Tables 34 and 35 relate to a 10 CHD/ml β toxin and a 0.0526 M and 0.0789 M concentration of glutaraldehyde. The 0.0526 M glutaraldehyde solution does not detoxify the toxin, but glutaraldehyde at 0.0789 concentration is efficacious. 10 CHD/ml β toxin is detoxified in 5 min with a 100% yield efficiency ; a decrease in the titer is again observed with contact at 37°C for 24 hours.

The results of this experimentation show a close correlation between the toxin titer, the glutaraldehyde concentration and the period of contact in order to obtain complete detoxification with high yield efficiency.

The influence of the three parameters and the method of obtaining the toxin is also shown in table 36.

                  TABLE 30                                                         ______________________________________                                         Detoxification of crude β toxin by glutaraldehyde at a                    final concentration of 0.0526 M.                                               ______________________________________                                         Time of               CHD/ml                                                   contact              titer -- method                                           at 37°C                                                                            MHD/ml    Toxin     Anatoxin                                        ______________________________________                                         Control    128       1.25      1.25                                            5'         8         <0.7      0.7                                             1 hr       4         <0.7      <0.7                                            3 hr       0         <0.7      <0.7                                            ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 30                                                         ______________________________________                                         Time of            CHD/ml                                                      contact            titer-method                                                at 37°C                                                                             MHD/ml     Toxin     anatoxin                                      ______________________________________                                         6 hr        0          --        --                                            24 hr       0          --        --                                            1 week      0          <0.1      --                                            2 weeks     0          <0.1      <0.1                                          ______________________________________                                    

G. Action of glutaraldehyde on various venoms

A series of trials were conducted to discover the minimal duration of detoxification on severals venoms.

After various trials, a concentration of glutaraldehyde solution of 10.7 ml per liter of venom at a dilution of 4 g/liter physiological salt solution was used.

Under these conditions, the minimum durations of detoxification are very variable, according to the venoms.

    ______________________________________                                         Aspis Berus Ammodytes                                                                               2 hr 30 at 37°C                                    Dendraspis           9 hr                                                      Naja Naja            3 hr                                                      Naja Melanoleuca mixture                                                       Nigricollis                                                                    Haje                 3 hr                                                      Bitis Gabonica mixture                                                         Lachesis             3 hr                                                      Echis Carinatus                                                                ______________________________________                                    

SAFETY TEST

Groups of 6 mice received injections at one-half hour invervals after the addition of glutaraldehyde to the venom solution.

The product is considered to be detoxified when 4 mice out of 6 survive an intravenous injection of one-half ml at 1/10 concentration.

The action of glutaraldehyde is then blocked by mixing an equal amount of lysine solution with the anavenom.

The use of anavenoms for the hyperimmunization of horses.

Horses were immunized in 1 month and with 12 injections, excellent results being obtained with the venoms :

Aspis, Berus, Ammodytes, Dendraspis, Bitis Gabonica and Laschesis, according to the following procedure :

    __________________________________________________________________________     Monday         5 ml                                                            Wednesday      10 ml                                                           Friday         15 ml                                                           Monday         20 ml                                                           Wednesday      40 ml                                                           Friday         60 ml + 2.5 ml Freund's adjuvant                                Monday         80 ml                                                           Thursday       120 ml                                                          Monday         160 ml + 2.5 ml Freund's adjuvant                               Thursday       200 ml                                                          Monday         250 ml                                                          The horses were bled 8 days                                                    after the last injection.                                                      __________________________________________________________________________

The sera obtained in 1 month were in every way comparable with those obtained by the conventional method in 4 or 6 months.

The horses' immunity was low after treatment of one month with the anavenoms of Echis Carinatus and the various Najas, but was sufficient to enable them to support massive doses of pure venom.

Rabbit vaccination trials with Aspis Berus, Ammodytes venom

Six rabbits received intramuscular injections of 0.5 ml 4% Aspis Berus Ammodytes venom, treated as above, with glutaraldehyde and lysine.

No mechanical difficulties, or any general reactions were observed after injections in the left thigh muscles every 7 days.

A test bleeding effected 20 days after the first injection, and before the 4th injection has shown that the animals were well immunized against the three venoms.

In conclusion, the use of glutaraldehyde to detoxify snake venoms permits hyperimmunization of horses in one month instead of 4 to 6 months, required by the old methods, and enables rabbits to be vaccinated against the venom of the 3 European vipers with a few 0.5 ml injections.

                  TABLE 31                                                         ______________________________________                                         Detoxification of crude β toxin by the action of -glutaraldehyde at       a final concentration of 0.0131 M                                              ______________________________________                                                               CHD/ml                                                   Time of contact       Titer-Method                                             at 37°C MHD/ml     Toxin     Anatoxin                                   ______________________________________                                         Control*       128        1.25      1.25                                       5'             128        1         1                                          1 h            32         1.25      1                                          3 h            32         1         1                                          6 h            32         --        --                                         24 h           32         <0.7      <0.7                                       1 week         32         <0.2      --                                         2 weeks        32         --        --                                         ______________________________________                                           *Control toxin without glutaraldehyde.                                  

                  TABLE 32                                                         ______________________________________                                         Detoxification of crude β toxin by action of                              glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.0526 M                            ______________________________________                                                               CHD/ml                                                   Time of contact       Titer - Method                                           at 37°C MHD/ml     Toxin     Anatoxin                                   ______________________________________                                         Control*       4,096      6.6       6.6                                        5'             128        3         3                                          1 h            32         2         2                                          3 h            16         0.8       0.8                                        6 h            16         --        --                                         1 week         2          0         --                                         2 weeks        0          0         0                                          ______________________________________                                          *Control Toxin without glutaraldehyde.                                   

                  TABLE 33                                                         ______________________________________                                         Detoxification of crude βtoxin by action of glutaraldehyde                at a final concentration of 0.0131 M                                           ______________________________________                                         Time of                                                                        contact             CHD/ml titer-method                                        at 37°C                                                                              MHD/ml     toxin       anatoxin                                   ______________________________________                                         Control*     4,096       6.6         6,6                                       5'           1,024      5           --                                         1 h          1,024      5           --                                         3 h          --         5           5                                          6 h          1,024      4           --                                         24 h         1,024      --          --                                         1 week       1,024      4           --                                         2 weeks      1,024      2           2                                          ______________________________________                                          *Control toxin without glutaraldehyde.                                   

                  TABLE 34                                                         ______________________________________                                         Detoxification of crude β-toxin by the action of                          glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.0526 M                            ______________________________________                                         Time of                                                                        contact               CHD/ml titer-method                                      at 37°C                                                                               MHD/ml      toxin     anatoxin                                   ______________________________________                                         Control*      8,000       10        10                                         5'            256         6,6       10                                         1 h           122         5         6,6                                        3 h           128         3         3                                          6 h           64          2         3                                          24 h          8           < 1       < 1                                        ______________________________________                                          *Control toxin without glutaraldehyde                                    

                  TABLE 35                                                         ______________________________________                                         Detoxification of crude β toxin by the action of glutaraldehyde           at a final concentration of 0.0789 M                                           ______________________________________                                         Time of                                                                        contact              CHD/ml titer-method                                       at 37°C                                                                              MHD/ml      toxin      anatoxin                                   ______________________________________                                         Control*     8,000       10         10                                         5'           32          0          10                                         1 h          0           0           5                                         3 h          0           0           3                                         6 h          0           0           1                                         24 h         0           0          < 0.5                                      ______________________________________                                          *Control: toxin without glutaraldehyde                                   

                                      TABLE 36                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Detoxification of crude β toxin by glutaraldehyde in less than            5 min at ambient temperature as a function of:                                 the titer of the toxin                                                         the concentration of glutaraldehyde                                            the origin of the toxin:                                                         either from the fermenter pH : 7.7                                             or from agitated balloon-flasks pH : 7                                       The results are given in CHD/ml                                                __________________________________________________________________________             Agitated balloon-                                                      Glutaraldehyde                                                                         flasks titer in                                                                         Fermenter                                                     at a concen-                                                                           CHD/ml   titer in CHD/ml                                               tration of                                                                             5   6.6  1.25                                                                               5   6.6  10                                               __________________________________________________________________________     0.0131 M                                                                               128 1.024                                                                               64  256 1.024                                                                               --                                               0.0526 M                                                                               0   0    0   64  64   256                                              0.0789 M                                                                               0   0    0    0  0    0                                                __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 37                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Detoxification of Berus venom in a 1 mg/ml solution by the action of           glutaraldehyde at final concentrations                                         of 0.0263 M and 0.00263 M                                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Innocuity test on mice                                                                                            0.0263 M gluta-                                                                          0.00263 M gluta-                  Time of                    Venom without                                                                          raldehyde in                                                                             raldehyde in                      contact at                                                                           Venom + 0.0263 M                                                                         Venom + 0.00263 M                                                                         glutaraldehyde                                                                         9% NaCl   9% NaCl                           37°C                                                                          glutaraldehyde                                                                           glutaraldehyde                                                                            Control I                                                                              Control II                                                                               Control III                       __________________________________________________________________________     0 h   dead in 30"                                                                              dead in 30"                                                                               dead in 30"                                                                            survived  survived                                and in 1' and in 1'  and in 1'                                           1 h   2 dead in 30"                                                                            dead in 2' dead in 30"                                                                            survived  survived                                2 survived           and in 1'                                           2 h   2 dead in 30"                                                                            dead in 2' dead in 30"                                                                            survived  survived                                2 survived           and in 1'                                           3 h   survived  dead in 10 to 15'                                                                         dead in 30"                                                                            survived  survived                                                     and in 1'                                           6 h   survived  dead in 30 to 35'                                                                         dead in 5'                                                                             survived  survived                          24 h  survived  survived   dead in 5'                                                                             survived  survived                          48 h  survived  survived   dead in 5'                                                                             survived  survived                          __________________________________________________________________________      Injections after dilution to 1/10 to 16g and 18g mice                    

                                      TABLE 38                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Detoxification of Naja Naja venom in 1 mg/ml solution by the                   action of glutaraldehyde at final concentrations of 0.0263 M                   and 0.00263 M                                                                  __________________________________________________________________________     Innocuity test on mice*                                                        Time of         0.0263 M 0.00263 M                                             contact         glutaraldehyde                                                                          glutaraldehyde                                        at 37°C                                                                       Control venom                                                                            venom    venom                                                 __________________________________________________________________________     0 h   3 dead in 6 mn                                                                           4 dead in 4 mn                                                                          3 dead in 6 mn                                              1 dead in 40 mn    1 dead in 35 mn                                       1 h   4 dead in 6 mn                                                                           4 dead in 10 mn                                                                         4 dead in 10 mn                                       2 h   4 dead in 5 mn                                                                           1 dead in 30 mn                                                                         4 dead in 14 mn                                       3 h   4 dead in 6 mn                                                                           survived 3 dead in 14 mn                                                                1 dead in 60 mn                                       6 h   4 dead in 6 mn                                                                           survived 3 dead in 18 mn                                                                1 dead in 30 mn                                       24 h  4 dead in 6 mn                                                                           survived survived                                              48 h  4 dead in 10 mn                                                                          survived survived                                              __________________________________________________________________________      *0.5 ml injections of the 1/10 diluted solution to 16g and 18g mice.     

Preparation of an anti-Aspis-Bersus-Ammodytes vaccine adsorbed on calcium phosphate.

1 - Action of glutaraldehyde

A mixture of venoms of Aspis, Berus and Ammodytes, in a 9% sodium chloride solution and each of them at a concentration of 1 mg/ml, was detoxified by 0.0263 M glutaraldehyde for 3 hours at 37°C. An equal volume of 0.1 M lysine pH 6.8 - 7.00 is then added, the mixture is incubated for 15 minutes at 37°C and kept in a refrigator for several days. After said operations the preparation has a dark yellow color.

2 - Preparation of the vaccine

Merthiolate is added to 2 liters of anavenom at a rate of 2%00, the preparation then undergoes long dialysis against a 0.07 M Na₂ HPO₄ solution with 2%oo merthiolate is filtered on a sterilizing filter of the Seitz type. An equal volume of filtrate is mixed with a sterile 0.07 M calcium chloride solution. A vaccine, adsorbed on calcium phosphate, is thus obtained, with a pH adjusted to 6.8-7.00.

Tests of:

- sterility

- nitrogen

- innocuity

- immunodiffusion in gelose, are effected after the various steps of the preparation:

- before dialysis against 0.07M Na₂ HPO₄ solution

- after dialysis against the 0.07 M Na₂ HPO₄ solution

- after filtering on a Seitz filter

- final product

(see tables 39 to 44) H. Action of glutaraldehyde on α staphylococcus germs

Table 45 shows that a 0.0131 M concentration of glutaraldehyde applied for 5 min is sufficient to inactivate α staphylocuccus germs at a density of 25 NIH.O.D.U. NIH. ODU = NIH optical density units (USA).

Table 46 shows that the agglutination rate of rabbits, vaccinated with the α germs, so inactivated, then washed in 9% NaCl and adjusted to density of 15 NIH. O.D.U., increases regularly.

Table 47 shows that said vaccination induces the same increase in the titer of antibodies as vaccination effected with heat-killed α staphylococcus germs.

                  TABLE 39                                                         ______________________________________                                         Stages of                                                                      vaccine               Nitrogen  Immunodiffu-                                   preparation Sterility in mgN/ml sion in gelose                                 ______________________________________                                         After dialysis        0.207     numerous lines                                 against 0.07M                                                                  Na.sub.2 HPO.sub.4 solution                                                    After filtration                                                                           up to     0.167     numerous lines                                 on Seitz filter                                                                            standard                                                           Adsorbed    up to               decrease in the                                vaccine     standard            number of lines                                                                (supernatant)                                  ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 40                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Innocuity monitoring during preparation of the antivenomous vaccine            Antivenomous vaccine + 0.05 M lysine + 2 %oo non-dialyzed                      __________________________________________________________________________     merthiolate                                                                    Innocuity test on mice *                                                       Weight at   Comments            Weight                                                                              Comments                                  Dilutions                                                                            injection                                                                            2 days                                                                             3 days                                                                             4 days                                                                             5 days                                                                             6 days                                                                              7 days                                        __________________________________________________________________________           17 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 20 g NTR                                             17 g  dead                                                                     17 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 21.5 g                                                                              NTR                                       Nd                                                                                   17 g  dead                                                                     18 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 23.5 g                                                                              NTR                                             17 g  NTR dead                                                                 17 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25.5 g                                                                              NTR                                             16 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 22 g NTR                                             17 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25 g NTR                                       1/10                                                                                 18 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25 g NTR                                             18 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25 g NTR                                             17 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 21.5 g                                                                              NTR                                       __________________________________________________________________________      * 0.5 ml subcutaneous injection to six 17 g and 22 g mice.               

                                      TABLE 41                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Antivenomous vaccine + 0.05 M lysine + 2 %oo merthiolate dialyzed against      0.07 M                                                                         Na.sub.2 HPO.sub.4 + 2 %oo merthiolate                                         __________________________________________________________________________     Innocuity test on mice                                                         Weight at   Comments            Weight (g)                                                                           Comments                                 Dilutions                                                                            injection                                                                            2 days                                                                             3 days                                                                             4 days                                                                             5 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             7 days                                         __________________________________________________________________________           18 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 21.5  NTR                                            17 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25.5  NTR                                            18 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25    NTR                                      Nd                                                                                   17 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 21    NTR                                            18 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 24.5  NTR                                            16 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 23.5  NTR                                            17 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25    NTR                                            19 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 26    NTR                                            17 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 24    NTR                                      1/10                                                                                 16 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 20.5  NTR                                            17 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25    NTR                                            17 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25.5  NTR                                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 42                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Antivenomous vaccine + 0.05 M lysine + 2 %oo merthiolate dialyzed against      0.07 M                                                                         Na.sub.2 HPO.sub.4 + 2 %oo merthiolate filtered on Seitz                       __________________________________________________________________________     Innocuity test on mice                                                         Weight at   Comments                Weight                                                                              Comments                              Dilutions                                                                            injection                                                                            24 h                                                                               48 h                                                                               72 h                                                                               4 days                                                                             5 days                                                                             6 days                                                                             7 days                                     __________________________________________________________________________           21 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 27 g NTR                                         21 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 22 g NTR                                         22 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 28 g NTR                                   Nd                                                                                   22 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 27 g NTR                                         18 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 23 g NTR                                         21 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 26 g NTR                                         22 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 30 g NTR                                         21 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 23 g NTR                                         22 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 27 g NTR                                   1/10                                                                                 22 g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 27 g NTR                                         18.5 g                                                                               NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 18.5 g                                                                              NTR                                         22 g  NTR NR  NTR NTR NTR NTR 27 g NTR                                   __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 43                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Adsorbed antivenomous vaccine                                                  Innocuity test on mice*                                                        Weight at    Comments           Weight (g)                                                                           Comments                                 Dilutions                                                                            injection                                                                            2 days                                                                             3 days                                                                             4 days                                                                             5 days                                                                             6 days                                                                              7 days                                        __________________________________________________________________________           17g   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 24g   NTR                                            17g   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25g   NTR                                            18g   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 26g   NTR                                      Nd    17g   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 24.5g NTR                                            16g   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 24g   NTR                                            17g   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25g   NTR                                            16g   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 24g   NTR                                            17g   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25g   NTR                                            17g   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 23g   NTR                                      1/10  17g   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 24.5g NTR                                            16g   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25g   NTR                                            16g   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 25g   NTR                                      __________________________________________________________________________      *0.25 ml subcutaneous injections to six 17g to 22g mice.                 

                                      TABLE 44                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Adsorbed antivenomous vaccine                                                  Innocuity test on guinea pigs*                                                 Weight at                                                                            Comments                Weight                                                                              Comments                                    injection                                                                            24 h                                                                               48 h                                                                               3 days                                                                             4 days                                                                             5 days                                                                             6 days                                                                              7 days                                          __________________________________________________________________________     350g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 400g                                                                               NTR                                          320g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 360g                                                                               NTR                                          320g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 380g                                                                               NTR                                          310g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 370g                                                                               NTR                                          310g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 340g                                                                               NTR                                          330g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 370g                                                                               NTR                                          300g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 330g                                                                               NTR                                          310g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 345g                                                                               NTR                                          305g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 350g                                                                               NTR                                          305g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 350g                                                                               NTR                                          325g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 355g                                                                               NTR                                          300g  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR 350g                                                                               NTR                                          __________________________________________________________________________      *1 ml subcutaneous injection of undiluted preparation to eight                 ≃ 300 g guinea pigs. The last 4 guinea pigs are controls         which received no injection.                                             

                  TABLE 45                                                         ______________________________________                                         Inactivation of α staphylococcus germs by glutaraldehyde                 Time  BD = Blood                                                               of    dish         Development of germs at 25 NIH.                             con-  Ch = Chapmann                                                                               O.D.U. after action of glutaral-                            tact  medium       dehyde at final concentration of*                           at    NB = Nutrient                                                                               0                                                           37°C                                                                          broth        (Control) 0.0526M 0.0131 M                                  ______________________________________                                               BD           +         0       0                                         5 mn  Ch           +         0       0                                               NB           +         0       0                                               DB           +         0       0                                         30mn  Ch           +         0       0                                               NB           +         0       0                                         2h    BD           +         0       0                                               Ch           +         0       0                                               NB           +         0       0                                         3h    BD           +         0       0                                               Ch           +         0       0                                               NB           +         0       0                                         24h   BD           +         0       0                                               Ch           +         0       0                                               NB           +         0       0                                         ______________________________________                                          *activity checked by seeding blood dish, Chapman medium and nutrient           broth. Results observed after 48 h at 37°C.                       

                  TABLE 46                                                         ______________________________________                                         Vaccination with α germs, inactivated with glutaraldehyde. -α      germs washed in 9%o NaCl solution, inactivated by the                          action of glutaraldehyde for 5 min at a final concentration                    of 0.0131 M, washed and adjusted to an optical density of                      15 NIH.O.D.U.                                                                  ______________________________________                                         Injection of                                                                             Agglutination rate of serum from 2 rabbits                           ______________________________________                                         0 control      0             0                                                 + 0.5 ml       1/40          1/10                                              + 1 ml         1/80          1/20                                              + 1 ml         1/640         1/640                                             + 1 ml         1/800         1/1600                                            + 1 ml         1/800         1/1600                                            ______________________________________                                          Injections are given intramuscularly every 15 days. Blood samples taken 1      days after each vaccination.                                             

                  TABLE 47                                                         ______________________________________                                         Comparison of the levels of antibodies in rabbits vaccinated                   with staphylococcus germs (strain α) inactivated:                        by heat (1 h 15 at 62°C)                                                by the action of glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of                    0.0131 M for 5 min.                                                            Agglutinating titer of sera from vaccinated                                    rabbits                                                                        Number of                                                                              Germs inactivated by                                                                           Germs inactivated by                                   injections                                                                             heat            glutaraldehyde                                         ______________________________________                                         0 control                                                                              0       0       0     0     0      0                                   1-0.5ml 1/40    1/20    1/40  1/20  1/40   1/40                                vaccine                                                                        2-1 ml  1/80    1/40    1/80  1/40  1/80   1/160                               vaccine                                                                        3-1 ml  1/320   1/320   1/320 1/320 1/320  1/640                               vaccine                                                                        ______________________________________                                          Intramuscular injections of anoptical density of 15 NIH units are              administered to rabbits every 15 days. Blood samples taken 15 days after       each vaccinal injection.                                                 

Study on the inactivation of β staphylococcus germs by glutaraldehyde with regard to

- the concentration of glutaraldehyde,

- the duration of contact,

- the density of germs,

- the used medium.

Vaccinal power of inactivated germs:

Tables 48 and 49 show that a concentration of 0.0131 M glutaraldehyde for 5 min, or of 0.00263 M for one half hour is sufficent to inactivate β-staphylococcus germs at a density of 30 NIH.O.D.U.

Table 50 shows the proportionality of duration necessary to inactivate (at ambient temperature) β-staphylococcus germs based on final concentrations of glutaraldehyde.

Table 51 shows the action of a 0.0131 M concentration of glutaraldehyde on various densities of germs: it is seen that a duration of 15 min is sufficient to inactivate germs even at 300 NIH.O.D.U.

Table 52 shows that the presence of 0.0065 M glutaraldehyde in a culture medium inhibits staphylococcus growth. Said experiment shows the action of glutaraldehyde even in the presence of organic substances.

Table 53 shows the increase of antibodies titer in rabbits, vaccinated with β germs, inactivated with glutaraldehyde.

                  TABLE 48                                                         ______________________________________                                         Inactivation of β staphylococcus germs by glutaraldehyde                  ______________________________________                                         BD = blood       Activity of germs at 31 NIH ODU                               dish             after action of glutaraldehyde at                             Ch = Chapman     final concentrations of:*                                     Time of medium                                                                 contact NB = nutrient                                                                               0                                                         at 37°C                                                                         broth        (control) 0.0526 M                                                                              0.0131 M                                 ______________________________________                                         5mn     BD           +         0      0                                                Ch           +         0      0                                                NB           +         0      0                                        30mn    BD           +         0      0                                                Ch           +         0      0                                                NB           +         0      0                                        2h      BD           +         0      0                                                Ch           +         0      0                                                NB           +         0      0                                        3h      BD           +         0      0                                                Ch           +         0      0                                                NB           +         0      0                                        24h     BD           +         0      0                                                Ch           +         0      0                                                NB           +         0      0                                        ______________________________________                                          *Activity checked by seeding blood dish, Chapman medium and nutrient           broth. Results determined after 48 h at 37°C                      

                  TABLE 49                                                         ______________________________________                                         Inactivation of β staphylococcus germs by the action of                   glutaraldehyde.                                                                ______________________________________                                               BD = blood dish                                                                            Growth of germs at 29 O.D.NIH after                          Time  Ch = Chapman                                                                               the action of glutaraldehyde at final                        of    medium      concentrations of*                                           contact                                                                              NB = nutrient                                                                              0                                                            at 37°C                                                                       broth       (Control) 0.0131 M                                                                               0.00263 M                                  ______________________________________                                         <5mn  BD          +         0       0                                                Ch          +         0       0                                                NB          +         0       0                                          30mn  BD          +         0       0                                                Ch          +         0       0                                                NB          +         0       0                                          2h    BD          +         0       0                                                Ch          +         0       0                                                NB          +         0       0                                          ______________________________________                                          *Activity checked by seeding blood dish, Chapman medium and nutrient           broth. Results determined after 48 h at 37°C.                     

                                      TABLE 50                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Inactivation of β staphylococcus germs by the action of                   glutaraldehyde at variable concentrations and                                  durations                                                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Germs in NaCl/9%o                                                                         Activity of germs after the action of gluraraldehyde at final       10 N.I.H. O.D.U.                                                                          concentrations:*                                                    contact at ambient                                                                        0                                          0.0000131                temperature                                                                               Control                                                                             0.0131M                                                                              0.0065M                                                                              0.00131M                                                                             0.00065M                                                                             0.000131M                                                                             0.000065M                                                                             M                        __________________________________________________________________________     <5 mn      +    0     +     +     +     +      +      +                        30 mn      +    0     0     +     +     +      +      +                        1 h        +    0     0     ±  +     +      +      +                        2 h        +    0     0     0     ±  +      +      +                        4 h        +    0     0     0     ±  +      +      +                        24 h       +    0     0     0     0     +      +      +                        __________________________________________________________________________       *Activity checked by seeding in nutrient broth. Results determined after      24 h at 37°C.                                                     

                                      TABLE 51                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Study of the inactivation of β staphycoccus germs by the action of        glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.0131 M (*) with regard to                        1°) optical density (N.I.H. units)                                      2°) duration of contact                                  __________________________________________________________________________                    Checking of inactivation of nutrient broths                                    (results determined after 48 h at 37°C)                  __________________________________________________________________________     Duration of contact                                                                           Optical density                                                 __________________________________________________________________________                    10 25 50 100 150 200 300                                        Germs before contact                                                           (control)      +  +  +  +   +   +   +                                          <5 mn (18°C)                                                                           +  +  ±                                                                              +   ±                                                                               +   ±                                       15 mn (18°C)                                                                           0  0  0  +   0   0   0                                          30 mn (37°C)                                                                           0  0  0  0   0   0   0                                          1 h (37°C)                                                                             0  0  0  0   0   0   0                                          2 h (37°C)                                                                             0  0  0  0   0   0   0                                          4 h (37°C)                                                                             0  0  0  0   0   0   0                                          Control germs after 4h at                                                      37°C    +  +  +  +   +   +   +                                          __________________________________________________________________________      The germs are washed and diluted by a 9% NaCl solution of the desired          optical density                                                          

                                      TABLE 52                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Inhibition of the growth of β staphylococcus germs in                     culture medium nitrogen total 2.856 mg/ml by the action                        of glutaraldehyde                                                              __________________________________________________________________________     Glutaraldehyde                                                                           Medium + glutaral-                                                                        Medium + germ +                                           at a final                                                                               dehyde     glutaraldehyde(*)                                         concentration of                                                                         NIH.O.D.U.(**)                                                                            NIH. O.D.U.  Growth                                       __________________________________________________________________________               After 18 h at 37°C                                                                 After 18 hours at 37°C                             0(control)                                                                               0          9            +                                            0.0004 M  0.1        9            +                                            0.0008 M  0.3        9            +                                            0.0016 M  0.7        9            +                                            0.0033 M  0.7        7.3          +                                            0.0065 M  1.7        1.7          0                                            0.0131 M  5.4        5.4          0                                            0.0263 M  26.6       26.6         0                                            __________________________________________________________________________       (*)Uniform seeding for all media                                               (**)based on the broth.                                                 

                  TABLE 53                                                         ______________________________________                                          Evolution of the antibody levels in the rabbit, vaccinated                    with staphylococcus germs, inactivated by glutaraldehyde. The                  germs (strain β) are washed and suspended in a 9%o NaCl solution          inactivated by the action of glutaraldehyde at a final                         concentration of 0.0131 M and then again washed and adjusted                   to an optical density of 18 N I H units.                                       ______________________________________                                                       Agglutinating titer of sera                                      Number of injections                                                                         from 2 rabbits                                                   ______________________________________                                           0 control   0          0                                                     1 - 0.5 ml of vaccine                                                                        1/10       1/40                                                  2 - 1 ml of vaccine                                                                          1/160      1/40                                                  3 - 1 ml of vaccine                                                                          1/640      1/160                                                 4 - 1 ml of vaccine                                                                          1/800      1/320                                                 5 - 1 ml of vaccine                                                                           1/1600    1/640                                                 6 - 1 ml of vaccine                                                                          --         1/800                                                 7 - 1 ml of vaccine                                                                          --         1/800                                                 ______________________________________                                          Intramuscular injections of vaccine to the rabbit every 15 days.               Blood samples taken 15 days after each vaccinal injection.               

I. Inactivation of a culture of whooping-cough germs.

1 - Action of glutaraldehyde on strain 134 at 211O.D.U/ml

Bacterial survival is studied after seeding on Bordet Gengou medium (table 54). The culture is completely inactivated after 1 min incubation in the presence of glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.0131 M.

2 - Preparation of whooping-cough vaccine by the action of glutaraldehyde or heat, and comparative study of vaccinal powers.

Vaccines are studied after the action of glutaraldehyde for 1 min at 37°C or after having remained one-half hour in a water-bath at 56°C.

Table 55 shows that heat-inactivated fluid vaccine has the best immunological activity.

In the particular example selected, too much glutaraldehyde is used for inactivation, so that the preparation, inactivated by glutaraldehyde, has lower immunological activity.

Inactivation of a culture of whooping-cough germs by the action of glutaraldehyde at final concentrations of 0.00131 M and 0.000131 M.

1 - Action of glutaraldehyde

The first experiment showed that the whooping-cough culture was completely inactivated after 1 min incubation in the presence of glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.0131M.

A series of experiments was conducted to study the action of glutaraldehyde at lower concentrations. Table 55a shows that the culture is also inactivated after 1 min contact with glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.00131 M. Table 55b, on the other hand, shows that germs are not inactivated by a 0.000131M concentration.

2 - Study of vaccinal power

The immunizing power of a culture, inactivated for 1 min with a 0.00131 M concentration of glutaraldehyde, was studied with regard to the same culture, inactivated with heat under the conventional conditions. The immunizing powers are then observed to be substantially identical.

                  TABLE 54                                                         ______________________________________                                         Inactivation of a whooping-cough culture derived from                          strain 134 at 200 ODU /ml by the action of glutaraldehyde                      at a final concentration of 0.0131 M.                                          ______________________________________                                                  Development after seeding on Bordet                                            Gengou medium                                                                                   After washing                                        Time of contact                                                                           Before washing germs                                                                          germs with 9%o                                       at 37°C                                                                            with 9%o NaCl  NaCl                                                 ______________________________________                                         1     mn       0              0                                                15    mn       0              0                                                30    mn       0              0                                                1     hour     0              0                                                2     hours    0              0                                                4     hours    0              0                                                Germs without                                                                  glutaraldehyde=                                                                           ++++                                                                control                                                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 55                                                         ______________________________________                                         Titer in International Protection Units of the                                 preparation of fluid whooping-cough vaccine at                                 16 NIH units per ml (16 ODU) determined on the mouse                           ("Mouse protection test")                                                      after 1 min. contact at 37°C with a 0.0131 M                            glutaraldehyde solution                                                        after 1/2 hour in water-bath at 56°C                                    ______________________________________                                          Germs inactivated                                                                               16 ODU /ml fluid vaccine                                     with              protection units/ml                                          ______________________________________                                         Glutaraldehyde                                                                 (1 min contact)   4.04                                                         Glutaraldehyde                                                                 (1/2 hour in water-bath at                                                      56°C)     13.95                                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 55b                                                        ______________________________________                                         Inactivation of a 84 ODU/ml whooping-cough culture                             (Q 266 S 509) by the action of glutaraldehyde at                               a final concentration of 0.000131 M                                            ______________________________________                                                           Development after seeding on                                 Duration of contact at 37°C                                                               BORDET-GENGOU medium                                         ______________________________________                                         1        mn           +++                                                      15       mn           +++                                                      30       mn           +++                                                      1        hour         +++                                                      2        hours        +++                                                      4        hours        +++                                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 55a                                                        ______________________________________                                         Inactivation of a 84 O.D.U./ml whooping-cough                                  (Q 266 S-509) culture by the action of glutaraldehyde                          at a final concentration of 0.00131/M                                          ______________________________________                                                          Development after seeding                                     Duration of contact at 37°C                                                              on BORDET-GENGOU medium                                       ______________________________________                                         1        mn          0                                                         15       mn          0                                                         30       mn          0                                                         1        hour        0                                                         2        hours       0                                                         4        hours       0                                                         Germs without glutaraldehyde=                                                  control          ++++                                                          ______________________________________                                    

J. Inactivation of poliomyelitic viruses by glutaraldehyde

Three polyomyelicic viruses inactivation tests with glutaraldehyde were carried out.

1 st test:

Materials and methods:

- Poliomyelitic virus Type III

- glutaraldehyde : q.s. for 0.00263 M

- stoving at 37°C for 5 days (120 hrs)

- Storage at + 4°C after neutralization by means of sodium bisulphite.

Comments:

a. in the hour following the introduction of glutaraldehyde, the virus suspension becomes acidic, the pH changing from 7.2 to 6.7 - 6.8.

After 24 hours, an opalescence, developing into flocculation is observed, which then gives fairly large aggregates, which sediment slowly.

b. After the addition of glutaraldehyde, the titer in 50% cytopathogenic doses (CPD 50) of the viral suspension appears to decrease in a manner directly proportional to the logarithm of the stoving time.

For a titer of 10⁷.5 CPD 50 per milliliter at the start, 10².5 CPD 50 per milliliter remain after 120 hr stoving (duration of stoving calculated for total inactivation : about 51/2 months).

c. Inactivation checking (55 ml seeded on cellular culture dishes) : positive in 48 hours.

2 nd test:

- Poliomyelitic virus Type III

- glutaraldehyde q.s. for 0.00526 M

- stoving at 37°C for 4 days (96 hours)

- storage at + 4°C after neutralization with sodium bisulphite.

Comments:

a. acidification to about pH 6.5 after addition of glurataldehyde.

Precipitation occurs slightly earlier but is much more intense; slow sedimentation of a thick layer of fibrous precipitate.

b. The inactivation curve is irregular : after a sudden drop in the first hour (reduction of 5 log) it levels off for 24 hours, a collapse being then observed at the 48 th hour.

c. Inactivation checkings are, however, positive : all the cellular cultures seeded are destroyed on the 7 th day.

3 rd test

- Mixture of equal portions of viruses of the three types of polio.

- Glutaraldehyde : q.s. for 0.0035 M

- stoving at 37°C for 12 days.

- Storage at +4°C after neutralization by sodium bisulfite.

Comments

a. acidification and precipitation comparable to test No. 2.

b. Inactivation curve of the same aspect as in the second test, substantial reduction (about 4 log) in the first hours, levelling off from the 6th to the 24th hour, then collapse at 96 hours.

c. However, despite prolonging stoving for 8 more days, here also inactivation is not total : 40% of the cultures seeded with the finished product were positive.

It is possible to conclude from the above tests that:

1. Glutaraldehyde has a noticiable inactivation effect on poliomyelitic viruses.

2. However, its precipitating action on the proteins which are present as impurities in the medium, probably induces the formation of adsorbates and agglomerates of the virus, which prevent total inactivation.

A further test was therefore conducted, on virus purified by adsorption-elution in order to avoid the precipitations previously observed when glutaraldehyde was added to the crude virus suspension.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Virus : Type III adsorbed on brushite. Washed with 0.1 M phosphate buffer; eluted with 0.4 M pH 7.4 disodium phosphate solution.

Stoved one night at 37°C.

Glutaraldehyde then added : q.s. for 0.00263 M

Stoving at 37° for 120 hours.

Storing at +4° after neutralization with Na Bisulphite.

Comments

The virus eluted in disodium phosphate is much more thermo-sensitive than the crude virus; stoving for one night at 37°C results in a decrease in virulence of nearly one unit (expressed by logarithm).

Glutaraldehyde, at the used concentration, has a very intense action on the purified virus; the loss of virulence being about 3.5 log in 6 minutes; and about 4.5 log in 25 minutes.

After 1.5 hours, a reduction of 6 log or more is observed, no cytopathogenic effect being discernible at a dilution of 10.sup.⁻¹ , which is cytotoxic in itself.

At the 6th hour, an opalescence is observed, which intensifies progressively. At the 24 th hour, aggregates, forming a small amount of sediment, are observed.

Aggregates and opalescence are eliminated by filtration on a membrane (0.45 nanometer) and do not reappear.

Inactivation checking, using 200 ml finished product, inoculated at a rate of 1 ml per 16 cm² cellular culture surface are negative after 16 days observation. Subcultures of said checkings are also negative.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Under the conditions of the test, the polio virus is completely inactivated.

2. Purified and mixed in a pH 7.4 phosphate solution, the virus is extremely susceptible to 0.00263 M glutaraldehyde.

Many modifications can be brought to the above experiments, notably in as far as concerns the concentration of glutaraldehyde and the composition and pH of the elution liquid, to improve the method of vaccine manufacture and reduce to a minimum the risk of virus denaturation.

K. Study on the inactivation of a foot-and-mouth disease virus culture by the action of glutaraldehyde.

The action of glutaraldehyde on foot-and-mouth disease viruses

Table 56 shows that inactivation is only complete after 5 days incubation in the presence of glutaraldehyde at a final concentration of 0.00263 M.

Study of vaccinal power

Preparations inactivated by glutaraldehyde treatment for 5 days and 7 days at 37°C were used. The preparations were diluted to one-third by mixing 1 volume of preparation, 1 volume of antirabic vaccine and 1 volume adjuvant. Vaccination of guinea pigs gave a neutralizing titer with respect to foot-and-mouth disease virus which is comparable to the titer obtained with a commercial vaccine of the same type.

L. Study of the proper toxicity of glutaraldehyde.

The description will be completed by the study of the toxicity inherent in glutaraldehyde.

Tables 57 and 58 give the results of innocuity tests, effected with a solution of glutaraldehyde in 9% sodium chloride at various concentrations, and after inoculation of the solutions with lysine.

The 0.1 M lysine control solution gives no intolerance reaction. But a 0.00263 M or higher concentration of glutaraldehyde solution gives strongly positive reactions.

The incubation of a glutaraldehyde solution with lysine neutralizes the dermonecrotic activity of the aldehyde; said reaction can thus be used to neutralize excess glutaraldehyde after interaction of an antigenic preparation.

                  TABLE 56                                                         ______________________________________                                         Inactivation of a foot-and-mouth disease virus suspension                      at a final concentration of 0.00263 M                                          ______________________________________                                         Duration of contact at                                                         37°C          PFU/0.1 ml*                                               ______________________________________                                         control without                                                                glutaraldehyde       10.sup.6 - 10.sup.7                                       5           mn           >100                                                  1           hour         >100                                                  3           hours        >100                                                  6           hours        >100                                                  24          hours        1 to 5                                                48          hours        1 to 5                                                5           days         0                                                     7           days         0                                                     ______________________________________                                          *Plage forming units.                                                    

                                      TABLE 57                                     __________________________________________________________________________                         Innocuity test on guinea pigs                                                  observations after                                         SAMPLES     INJECTIONS*                                                                            24 h                                                                               48 h                                                                               72 h 1 week                                                                              2 weeks                                                                              3 weeks                                                                              4 weeks                      __________________________________________________________________________     0.0263 M glutaral-  SES ES  ES   SES  dead                                     dehyde solution                                                                            superficial                                                                            NTR NTR NTR  NTR  SI    NTR   NTR                                              NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR   NTR                          15 mn at 37°C                                                                       in depth                                                                               SES ES  ES   SES  EScic NTR   NTR                          0.0263 M glutaral-  NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR   NTR                          dehyde solution +                                                                          superficial                                                                            NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR   NTR                          0.1 M lysine                                                                   15 mn at 37°C                                                                       in depth                                                                               NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR   NTR                                              NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR   NTR                          0.00263 M glutaral- NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR   NTR                          dehyde solution                                                                            superficial                                                                            VSL VSL SES SL                                                                              NSI  NTR   NTR   NTR                          15 mn at 37°C                                                                       in depth                                                                               NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR   NTR                                              NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR   NTR                          0.00263 M glutaral- NTR NTR NTR  SN   NTR   NTR   NTR                          dehyde solution +                                                                          superficial                                                                            NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR                                0.01 M lysine                                                                                      NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR   NTR                          15 mn at 37°C                                                                       in depth                                                                               NTR NTR NTR  NTR  NTR   NTR   NTR                          __________________________________________________________________________      *Subcutaneous injections of 0.5 ml of each preparation                   

                  TABLE 58                                                         ______________________________________                                                       Innocuity test on guina pigs*                                                  Observations after                                               SOLUTIONS OF    24 hours  48 hours  1 week                                     ______________________________________                                         0.1 M lysine    NTR       NTR       NTR                                        15 mn at 37°C                                                                           NTR       NTR       NTR                                        Glutaraldehyde 0.0263 M                                                                        NTR       NTR       NTR                                        15 mn at 37°C                                                                           NTR       NTR       NTR                                        Glutaraldehyde 0.0263 M                                                                        NTR       ES        ES                                              +                                                                         0.1 M lysine 15 mn at 37°C                                                              NTR       NTR       N                                          0.01 M lysine   NTR       NTR       NTR                                        15 mn at 37°C                                                                           VSL       NTR       N                                          Glutaraldehyde 0.00263 M                                                                       VSL       SI        N                                          15 mn at 37°C                                                                           NTR       NTR       N                                          Glutaraldehyde 0.00263 M                                                                       NTR       NTR       N                                               +                                                                         0.01 M Lysine 15 mn at 37°C                                                             NTR       NTR       NTR                                        ______________________________________                                           *0.1 ml subcutaneous injections of each preparation                     

Applicant studied the detoxification of a 50:50 mixture of 475 FU/ml diphtherial toxin and 475 FU/ml tetanus toxin by means of glutaraldehyde with a final concentration of 0.00263 M and with variable durations of contact.

The detoxification was effected in 1% sodium bicarbonate medium and 0.07 M sodium phosphate medium.

The used durations of contact are: 5 min.; 30 min; 1 h; 2 hrs; 3 hrs.

Tables 59 and 60 show that the detoxification of the diphtherial toxin is far better in phosphate medium than in bicarbonate medium.

Indeed it is substantially detoxified after 5 minutes contact in disodium phosphate medium and only after 3 hours contact in sodium bicarbonate.

On the contrary the medium does not affect the detoxification of the tetanus toxin.

Table 61 gives the percentages of copolymerized tetanus and diphtherial units.

It is pointed out that the tetanus toxin copolymerizes in disodium phosphate medium much more than in sodium bicarbonate medium. This difference is not observed with the diphtherial toxin.

Whatever the used medium is, the percentage of copolymerized units does not increase with regard to the duration of contact.

                                      TABLE 59                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Detoxification of a 50:50 mixture of 475 FU/ml tetanus toxin and 475           FU/ml diphtherial toxin by                                                     glutaraldehyde with a final concentration of 0.00263 M and variable            durations of contact.                                                          1 - Controls after dialysis on sample in 1% sodium bicarbonate                 __________________________________________________________________________     solution.                                                                      Duration                                                                            Test of innocuity of the                                                  of con-                                                                             rabbit*          Innocuity test of the mouse**                            tact Comments 48 h    Weight                             Com-                  at   after the        (g) Comments                   Weight                                                                             ments                 37°C                                                                         injection        Oh  24 h                                                                               48 h                                                                               72 h                                                                               96 h                                                                               1 week                                                                              2 weeks                                                                              3 weeks                   __________________________________________________________________________          1/10   >20  >20  20  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   23  NTR                        1/100  >20  >20                                                           5 mn 1/1000 12   18   21  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   23  NTR                        1/10,000                                                                              tr   14   21  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   24  NTR                        1/1000 12   >20  21.5                                                                               NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   25  NTR                   30 mn                                                                               1/10,000                                                                               0    0   21  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   28  NTR                        1/100,000                                                                              0    0   20  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   20  NTR                        Nd     ES   ES   22  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   33  NTR                        1/10   ES   ES                                                            1 h  1/100  16   20   20.5                                                                               NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   20  NTR                        1/1000 tr   tr   21.5                                                                               NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   25  NTR                        Nd     >20  >20  21.5                                                                               NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   24  NTR                        1/10   13   16                                                            2 h  1/100   0    0   22.5                                                                               NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   28  NTR                        1/1000  0    0   21.5                                                                               NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   26  NTR                        Nd      13/14                                                                               18/19                                                                              22.5                                                                               NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   30  NTR                        1/10   tr    0                                                            3 h  1/100   0    0   22.5                                                                               NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   30  NTR                        1/1000  0    0   22  NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR   30  NTR                   __________________________________________________________________________       *0.1 ml injection of different dilutions subcutaneously to two rabbits         **1 ml injection to three mice. Diameter of reactions by the rabbit in m      - ES = eschar - tr = traces.                                             

                                      TABLE 60                                     __________________________________________________________________________     2. Controls after dialysis on the sample in 0.07 M disodium phosphate          solution                                                                              Innocuity test on                                                                            Innocuity test on the mouse                               Duration of                                                                           the rabbit    Weight                         (g)                        contact at                                                                            Comments 48 h after                                                                          (g)  Comments                  Weight                                                                             Comments               37°C                                                                           injection     0 H  24 h                                                                               48 h                                                                               72 h                                                                               96 h                                                                               1 week                                                                              2 weeks                                                                             3 weeks                    __________________________________________________________________________            Nd    17  13  22   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  26  NTR                           1/10  tr  0                                                             5 mn   1/100                                                                               0    0   21.5 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  28  NTR                           1/1000                                                                              0    0   22   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  28  NTR                           Nd    13/14                                                                              12  22   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  24  NTR                           1/10 0    0                                                             30 mn  1/100                                                                               0    0   22.5 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  26  NTR                           1/1000                                                                              0    0   21.5 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  28  NTR                           Nd   0    12  22.5 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  24  NTR                    1 hr   1/10 0    0                                                                    1/100                                                                               0    0   21.5 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  22  NTR                           1/1000                                                                              0    0   22.5 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  31  NTR                           Nd   9    11  21   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  22  NTR                    2 hr   1/10 0    0                                                                    1/100                                                                               0    0   21.5 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  26  NTR                           1/1000                                                                              0    0   21.5 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  28  NTR                           Nd   9    11  22   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  25  NTR                           1/10 0    0                                                             3 hr   1/100                                                                               0    0   22.5 NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  29  NTR                           1/1000                                                                              0    0   21   NTR NTR NTR NTR NTR  NTR  26  NTR                    __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLe 61                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Tetanus and diphtherial units forming copolymers after detoxification of       a 50:50 mixture of 475 FU/ml                                                   diphtherial toxin and of 475 FU/ml tetanus toxin                               __________________________________________________________________________            In 0.07 M disodium phosphate solution                                                                   In 1%o sodium bicarbonate solution                                                          Copolymerized                            Copolymerized                                                                              Copolymerized tetanus     tetanus units in                  Duration of                                                                           diphtherial units expressed in                                                                         Copolymerized diphtherial                                                                    % after precipi-                  contact                                                                               units expressed in                                                                         % after precipitation                                                                      units in % after precipi-                                                                    tation by a puri-                 at     % after precipitation                                                                      by a purified                                                                              tation by a purified                                                                         fied antidiphthe-                 37°C                                                                           by an antitetanic serum                                                                    antidiphtherial serum                                                                      antitetanic serum                                                                            rial serum                        __________________________________________________________________________            purified                                                                            non purified                                                        5 mn  21.1 27.7   70.6        18.1          13.9                              30 mn  20   32.4   69.7        15.2          22.6                              1 h    18.2 18.6   71.5        18.2          26.7                              2 h    16.7 18.6   66.2        16.2          25                                3 h    23   18.6   66.7        18.2          18.9                              __________________________________________________________________________

0? -? 1/100? 0? 0? 21.5? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? 26? NTR? -? 1/1000? 0? 0? 21.5? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? 28? NTR?-? Nd? 9? 11 ? 22? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? 25? NTR? -? 1/10? 0? 0? -3 hr? 1/100? 0? 0? 22.5? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? 29? NTR? -? 1/1000? 0? 0? 21? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? NTR? 26? NTR? - -

                                      table 61                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Tetanus and diphtherial units forming copolymers after detoxification of       a 50:50 mixture of 475 FU/ml                                                   diphtherial toxin and of 475 FU/ml tetanus toxin                               __________________________________________________________________________            In 0.07 M disodium phosphate solution                                                                   In 1%o sodium bicarbonate solution                                                          Copolymerized                            Copolymerized                                                                              Copolymerized tetanus     tetanus units in                  Duration of                                                                           diphtherial units expressed in                                                                         Copolymerized diphtherial                                                                    % after precipi-                  contact                                                                               units expressed in                                                                         % after precipitation                                                                      units in % after precipi-                                                                    tation by a puri-                 at     % after precipitation                                                                      by a purified                                                                              tation by a purified                                                                         fied antidiphthe-                 37°C                                                                           by an antitetanic serum                                                                    antidiphtherial serum                                                                      antitetanic serum                                                                            rial serum                        __________________________________________________________________________            purified                                                                            non purified                                                        5 mn  21.1 27.7   70.6        18.1          13.9                              30 mn  20   32.4   69.7        15.2          22.6                              1 h    18.2 18.6   71.5        18.2          26.7                              2 h    16.7 18.6   66.2        16.2          25                                3 h    23   18.6   66.7        18.2          18.9                              __________________________________________________________________________ 

What we claim is:
 1. A process for preparing a bacterial toxin comprising the steps of:a. reacting a bacterial toxin with glutaraldehyde of a concentration ranging from about 0.00131 M to about 0.0526 M and for a duration just sufficient for almost complete detoxification within 1 hour with complete detoxification within 3 hours, said detoxification being equivalent to formaldehyde detoxification requiring a period of not less than 2 weeks, to detoxify and inactivate said toxin, b. stopping the reaction as soon as said inactivation stage is reached, whereby an inactivated product is obtained which is usable as a bacterial toxin while remaining antigenic and retaining its immunizing power.
 2. A process according to claim 1, wherein said toxin is diphtherial toxin.
 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein said toxin is tetanus toxin.
 4. A process according to claim 1, wherein α-staphylococcus toxin is used as the toxin.
 5. A process according to claim 1, wherein β-staphylococcus toxin is used as the toxin.
 6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the glutaraldehyde and said toxin are brought into contact at a temperature of from ambient temperature to about 40° C.
 7. A process according to claim 6, wherein said temperature is between 35° and 40° C.
 8. A process according to claim 7, wherein said temperature is about 37° C.
 9. A process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction between said toxin and glutaraldehyde is stopped by the addition of an agent able to block the glutaraldehyde-antigen reaction or to react with the glutaraldehyde which is in the free state in the reaction medium and selected from the group consisting of amino-acids and inorganic salts.
 10. A process according to claim 9, wherein said agent is an amino-acid.
 11. A process according to claim 10, wherein said amino-acid is lysine or glycin.
 12. A process according to claim 9, wherein said agent is sodium bisulfite.
 13. A process according to claim 1, wherein said reaction is stopped by subjecting the detoxified product to dialysis against an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt, whereby a fluid product usable as a bacterial toxin is obtained.
 14. A process according to claim 1, wherein said agent is an inorganic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium phosphate and sodium chloride.
 15. A process according to claim 13, wherein merthiolate is added to said aqueous solution used for said dialysis.
 16. A process according to claim 1, wherein said reaction is stopped by centrifuging and washing the detoxified product to remove from it the excess of glutaraldehyde.
 17. A process according to claim 1, wherein a sterile caclium chloride solution is added to the detoxified product obtained in fluid form by dialysis against a buffer solution, whereby an adsorbed product useful as a bacterial toxin is obtained.
 18. A process according to claim 13, wherein aluminum hydroxide is added to said detoxified bacterial toxin, obtained by dialysis against a sodium chloride solution, whereby an adsorbed product useful as a bacterial toxin is obtained.
 19. A process according to claim 13, wherein aluminum phosphate is added to said detoxified bacterial toxin, obtained by dialysis against a sodium chloride solution, whereby an adsorbed product useful as a bacterial toxin is obtained.
 20. A bacterial toxin obtained by the process according to claim 1 and containing detoxified derivatives corresponding to the toxic products of a bacterial toxin selected from the group consisting of diphtherial toxin, tetanus toxin, and α- and β-staphylococcus toxins.
 21. A bacterial toxin according to claim 20, further containing an agent selected from the group consisting of amino-acids and inorganic salts.
 22. A bacterial toxin according to claim 21, wherein said agent is an amino-acid.
 23. A bacterial toxin according to claim 21, wherein said agent is selected from the group of lysine and glycin.
 24. A bacterial toxin according to claim 20, in the fluid form.
 25. A bacterial toxin according to claim 20, in the adsorbed form.
 26. A bacterial toxin according to claim 22, adsorbed on calcium phosphate, aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate.
 27. Mixed bacterial toxins according to claim 20 containing detoxified derivatives of at least two toxins. 